Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-04-17


German resistance has stiHened, Gen
erai Haig reports today the capture
OF Villeret, which straightens his line
northwest of ST. Quentin, and an
nounces further progress to the north
west OF Lens. Counter attacks which
the Germans have launched at Man.
chy and Lagnicourt suggest that the
British are approaching dangerously
near the new German line, which, ac-
cording TO unofficial accounts, the
Germans had no time to complete be-
fore the British offensive was
launched.
British Official Report.
London, April 16.-Q2:s2 p. M
The British captured last night the
village of Villaret, south OF Hargi-
court, according to an official state
nent issued by the British war office.
They also made progress northeast OF
Lens.
Large captures OF guns and war
materials were made by the British
at LEVIN and on the Zouchez river. in
the Lens region, the statement an
nounces. The cannon taken Include
a six-inch naval gun of long range.
Truck loads of new tools, many
thousand rounds of ammunition and
quantities OF bombs, grenades and en-
gineer equipment also were captured.
The statement reads:
1--WE captured last night the village
OF Villaret, southeast OF Hargicourt,
and progressed northwest of Lens.
Full particulars of the booty we
took at Levein and on the Souchez
river are unavailable, but the fact is
established that our captures were
exceedingly large, including a long
range six-inch naval gun, many thou
sands rounds of ammunition of all
calibres up to eight inches, a number
of trench mortars and great quanti-
ties of bombs and grenades of all
kinds. In addition, truckloads of new
tools, many lengths OF tram lines
with trucks complete and two large
engineer dumps have fallen intact
into our possession.
"The attack at Monchy-Le-Preux
on the l4th was pressed by. the enemy
with great determination. The Third
Bavarian division, which was brought
down to resist our offensive during.
the battle of Loos in 1915 and later
took part in the fighting near High
wood during the Somme battle in
1916, was again hurried down to re-
inforce the divisions already in line.
1t was ordered to eretake Monchy-
Le-Preux at all costs. Its losses in
this fruitless attack were exceptional
ly heavy, as has been the, case with all
the Bavarian troops throughout the
whole recent operations. OF the
prisoners taken by us since the 9th
more than one-third are Bavarians."
Widen Gap in German Line.
(From Staff Correspondent OF the Asso-
ciated Press.)
British Headquarters in France,
April 10 (Via London) The British
continued today gradually to widen
the second gap cut in the Hindenburg
line north OF St. Quentin, having cap
tdred the position known as the Three
Savages, east Of Gricourt. St. Quen-
tin continues to burn. Away to the
north, Lens still holds out. The Ger
mans have several strong positions
about the city, to which they still
cling.
The British apparently would like
TO take Lens without inhicting too
great damage from an extensive bonn
bardment. They have always been
in a position to reduce the city to
ruins, but the shells have been d.
rccted against selected spots known to
be used for military purposes by the
Germans. Nevertheless the Germans
continue their work of destroying the
city by blowing up buildings.
Further details Of the fighting yes
terday show the desperate character
OF several German attacks on the new
British positions. The attack which
was essayed from both sides of
Queant and temporarily pierced the