Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-04-15
(By Morning Journal Snccial Leased Wire)

| Lens and st. Quentin, at either end
of the front on which the British have
| been pressing back the Germans, now
are almost within the grasp of the ad-
lvancing forces.
Smashing British blows against the
German positions north and south OF
Lens have had their effect and the
British now hold the suburban towns
! Of Iievin end cite st. Pierre, and are
reported to be firing heavy explosive
shells into the mining center of north
ern France.
| With the French holding fast south
of St Quentin and less than mile
from its border, the British followed
up their capture of Fayct, a mile
northwest of the town, by driving the
| Germans back to within a few hun
dred yards of St Quentin on the north.
Allies Everywhere Gain.
There has been violent fighting be-
| tween Lens and St Quentin and the
allies everywhere either have made
gains in the German defenses or nave
held back German attacks.
South of Lens and north of the
river Scarpe the troops of Field Mar
shall ETaig have continued to plunge
forward and have reached points two
to three miles east of the Nimy ridge
which, reputod one Of the strongest
points in the German defcnses north
east of Arras, less than n week ago
was in German hands.
South of the Scarpe the Germans
have fought stubbornly and have
rushed reserve forces into the fray in
an effort to hold back the oncomtng
British. Attacks and counter-attacks
came at short intervals but the Brit
ish maintained the captured positions
everywhere, London says. Serious
losses were inflicted on the Germans,
Germans Lose Heavily.
Northwest of st. Quentin the Brit
| ish also have captured the village of
Gricourt a mile north of FaYet. The
Germans lost heavily in killed and
wounded, London reports, in the fight
ing around Fayet. The British here
captured 400 prisoners.
Aerial fighting continues on large
scale on the western front, and Lon
don reports twelve British machines
failed to return after engaging the
Germans behind the German lines.
Four German machines were brought
down by British aviators and six
others were driven down. Berlin re-
cords that the entente lost twenty
four airplanes Friday.
South of st. Quentin the French
maintain their destructive fire against
the German positions, and the Ger
mans are replying. French troops
made some progress on the plateau
northeast of Quincy Basse, south OF
the Oise. Violent cannonading has
marked the hostlities at other i'm
portant sectors along the front held
by the French.
big Push Is On.
Most vital in the series of engage
ments are those accompanying the
British offensive in the Arras region,
now described as a real push" Cen
craI Haig's sledge-hammer blows
here SO far have been too much for
the Germans to withstand. The top Of
the famous Hindenburg line has been
turned and all along the front from
1.oos, north of Lens, to a point well
south Of Arras, the Germans are re
ported in retreat. fighting as they so
to delay as best they can the British
advance and give them, time TO COM
plete the preparation of defensive po-
sitions in the rear.
Hope for Hard Blow.
Not only Lens. with its important
coal fields is at stake in this move
ment. Correspondents at the front
hint at expectations of possibly greater
things. Apparently there is hope on
the part of the British Of keeping up
the pursuit at such a pace that their
foe may be caught unprepared at