New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-29
Desperate German Defence
Fails to Hold Back
Haig's Troops
Battle Develops
On Ten-Mile Front
English Flyers Bring Down
Three Hostile Planes
and One Balloon

British troops To-Day DedN lhNlA "NS
forward along a ten-mile front, stormed
Arleux-en- Cohelle, one of the bsstions
of the Oppy line, and swept further
across the line itself, right down TO the
rorth bank Of the Scarpe. Though the
Germans are still defending their po-
si,.ons sayagely in disconnected forti-
6eauons. Haig's victory means that
Hindenburg must soon fall back 70 the
Wotsn line. three miles nearer Douai.
The Oppy line runs from Lens to
Fresnoy. Just east Of ArleuX, which Is
included in semi-circular supplement
sry line. From Fresnoy it passes by
Oppy. and thence, 20 RoeuX, on the
sesrpe. lies somewhat TO the west OF
the positions the British occupied on
Monday. Haig's men this morning
esptured Arleux and surged forward on
: front Of more than two miles north
and south Of the village. The night
oHc.al report says: an the neighbor-
hood Of Rocux and Oppy heavy fight
inr is continuing" But correspond
ents with the British army declare that
half the town Of Oppy is already held
BY the men n khaki. Roeux seems to
be still IN German hands, but the Brit
jsh are battling stubbornly against
wave on wave Of German attackers for
the wood near the cemetery which sd-
Joins the village.
Between Roeux and Gavrelle, where
the Germans have wasted so many
thousands in fruitiess counter attacks,
the British fought their way up the
= western slopes of Greenland Hill, one
Of the last organized centres Of Ger
man defence.
Troops Cross Scarpe
Below Roeux the fighting crossed
the Scarpe and British detschments
took a trench leading south from the
river. as well as positions north OF
Monchy. The British gains we're regis
tered clear up TO the Acheville-Vimy
road, not far below Lens, and 500 Ger
man prisoners have already been sent
back through the lines.
Nowhere in the war has there been
hercer lighting than along this sector.
The Unconditional British communique
merely says: The Germans counter at
tackled bitterly with large forces and
suffered heavily from the British fire.
but observers at the front declare that
HindenburC's fighters charged across
the field in vast masses, almost like
swarms of insects, TO be literally
moved down by the British barrage
and the secondary fire Of the machine
guns.
Experts believe that the ferocity of
the German counter thrusts indicates
that HindenburR's delaying action has
failed and that the Wotan, or Queant-
Drocourt line. is not yet completed 70
his satisfaction. The German batteries
cannot come anywhere near equalling
the quantity Of metal hurled from the
British pieces, and the KNser's gem
erals are being forced. as the British
were AZ Ypres, to interpose walls OF
flesh and blood against the enemy's
advances German reserves arc being
used layishly, and several new divisions
have already been identified in to-day's
action.
The official accounts Of the battle
differ widely. The German day report
stated that after an intense lombard
ment which rose 70 drum-ilre, the Brit
ish infantry attacked on front which
extended from Loos TO ST. Quentin.
The Berlin night bulletin contracts this
extent Of ground 10 thirty kilometres
about twenty miles,, but declares that
the attack ended in complete defeat.
"0n the Arras battlefield" il says, "the
e. no - frh mn
completely IN their attempt 70 break
through the German lines
Important Gains Made
The most enthusiastic Of the corre-
spondents with the British only give
the front of the attack as ten miles,
and along almost every point Of this
important gains were made.
Last night over this sector there was
one long uproar of guns carefully
trained on previously determined Ger
man positions. At daybTeak the range
vas suddenly extended. and the khaki
garbed ranks moved quietly forward.
Inc attack on ArleuX was intrusted TO
me Canadian regiments, and they had
oferrun the town before noon. German
counter attacks came promptly, but the
Nanaclans met them cast OF the town
"a hand-to-hAnd combats and drove
htn back TO their shelters.
ArleuX is only nine miles from Douai
and slightly less than two from the
Hsotsn line. Strategically it mensces
ne trench systems which the Ger
mans are still holding south Of Lens,
and the village Of Droeourt. where the
Notan line turns northwest 20 estab-
ioos.
Though the British batteries eoneen-
mated their FIRE 70 their utmost capac-
~ they are no longer playing upon
regular trench systems, but must feel
ost hidden field defences, constructed,
..i'en hastily, but with extreme art
~ consequence, az some points the
eerman bsrbed wire entanglemeTts
stre not entirely demolished and
Sesed the advancing Tommies some
1meulty. Nowhere, however. were
icy held up, except on the outskirts
h Roeux
throughout the fighting the British
llsrs were active, though the day was
nay Yesterday four German planes
80 a hostile balloon were destroyed,
ne British sacrificing three Of their
o"H machines.
Description Of bitter fighting Gt