Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-12
SUPREME TEST
DEvELOP|NG0N
ARRAS FIELD
British Officers Believe
\ Greatest Battle of War
Has Begun.
PRESENT OFFENSIVE
PLANNED I'm FEBRUARY
Of Germans That Britons
Were Drawn Into Struggle Thru Re.
tirsment Of German Forces Dis
proved by British Officers, Who As.
sert Plans Were Laid Two Months
Ago-British Take Trenches.

at Arras shortly will develop into the
greatest contest of the war was de-
clared b.! General Maurice today. He
declared the present British offensive
was being conducted according to
plans completed in February, thereby
controverting the German declaration
that the Teutonic authorities con-
troled the situation.
The British losses in the first two
days Of the fight We're only half what
they had been in the same period in
the Somme offensive.
British Take German Trenches.
About 1,0OOfyards of trenches south
Of Farbus wood, in the region south
east of Vimy, were captured by the
British this morning, Reuters corre-
spondent telegraphs from the front. i
hill southeast Of Wancourt also was
captured.
The British yesterday took eleven
additional guns in the fighting be-
tween Croisilles and the Scarpe river.
The dispatch reads:
t
that-we occupied about 1000 yards of
trenches running south from the COM
mandant'G house to the southwark Of
Farbns wood and have, cleared the
ground to the bank of the Cojeul river.
We also occupied German trench
running southeast from Neuville-
Vitasse and have taken Hill No. 80.
lying southeast Of Wancourt.
Between Croisilles and the river
Scarpe our troops captured eleven
more guns in the course of yesterdays
fighting. The enemy is shelling our
new positions beyond vimy ridge"
Capture Two Important Positions.
The British captured early this
morning two important positions in
the enemy's lines north of the Vimy
ridge and are now astride Of the river
Souchez. according to an official state
ment issued by the war office A num-
Der of prisoners were taken. The
statement says the weather conditions
continue wet and stormy.
Two German counter attacks on
Vimy ridge We're broken up last night
with heavy losses to the attackers. The
statement follows:
/. THE weather continues wet and
stormy. Early this morning we at
tackled and captured two important po-
sitions in the enemy's lines north Of
Vimy ridge. astride the river Souchez.
A number of prisoners were taken by
U.S..
During the night two hostile at
tacks upon our new positions on the
northern end Of Vimy ridge were
driven off by our machine gun fire
with heavy German losses. Some prog
ress has been made south of the river
Scarpe." .- g#. .., ,-.
st Germans Reinforced.
THE last twenty four hours have
been marked by general increase in
the intensity of the fighting. The Ger
mans appear tovhave been reinforced
in the position on which the British as
.saults have driven them back and are
offering desperate resistance to the
hedvy British pressure.
Heavy counter attacks were launch
ed, but except at Bullecourt these met
with no success. Fighting for the key
position at Monchy-le-Preux was bitter
but with the British retaining all their
gains and consolidating the positions.
Time now Is required to get for
ward the big: guns and make good the
before attempting a
new stroke"
French Gain. Vantage Points.
Paris. April I'm an attack last
night on the new front below ST.
Quentin, between Coucy and Quincy
Basse, the French. drove back the Ger
mans to the southwestern edge of
Coucy forest. capturing several impor-
ant positionA
7, in the Champagne the Germans
Sapigneul. The statement follows:
Between the Somme and the Oise
artillery fighting continued with vio-
lence during the night, especially In
the region Of Urvillers.
South OF the Oise our troops after
artillery preparation attacked the Ger
man position east Of the line from
coucy-la-Ville to Quincy -Basse. After
spirited engagement we forced back
the enemy as far es the southwestern
edge Of the upper Coucy forest. Sew
eraF important points Of support fell
into our hands notwithstanding the re-
sistance Of the enemy, who left num-
her Of dead an the ground and prison
ers IN our hands. -
3 East OF Soissons there were patrol
encounters and active artillery fighting
Especially near Lassaux North Of the
Aisne our connoitering parties pene-
<rn 80 Cha (Sary,na = 1tno - aAvaHA