Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-24
SKY AL|CHT FOR MILES
WITH FLASHES OF GUNS
Battle OF .irras. After SmoIucrinp
Tor Il Week. Again Bursts Into
Flaming I'ury.
FIGHTING ON SMILE FRONT
Covers Line From South OF Vimy
Ridge to Point Well Below Croi-
siics-NI0re Than 1000 Prisoners
Capturetl-CaSualties Are Heavy.
From STAFF Correspondent of tho
Associated rress

From STAFF Correspondent of tho
Associated rress.1
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
FRANCE. April - (via Londonl The
battle OF Arras. which had been
smolderinE for y week past burst into
flaming fury again to-day, and is still
raging tonight with some OF the
heaviest lighting of the war in progress.
Thc sky is aliSht for miles with the
flashes of guns. with star shells that
spread moonlight palcncss over tho
battle field. and with varicolorcd
rockets. which fash signals 10 the op-
posing artillery. The cold cast wind
carries the echoes Of tho rcvcrbcratinG
cannonadc far back Of the British lines.
The fighting to-day covered approx;
matcly an cight-mile front, from south
Of Nimy ridge TO Il point we'll below
Croisilcs. Al the north end of the at
tack the British swept over German
fixed positions running almost due
south from Lens. and captured long
sections OF German positions in front
of the Hindcnburc line and great
number Of prisoners.
Moro than LOO prisoners were
counted I'm this sector late to-day, and
others were still coming in. The
largest number of prisoners was from
the One Hundred and Forty first Pomer-
anians. who surrendered in hundreds
after very brief resistance. \ battery
Of field guns also was taken.
Between Gavrellc and Croisiles. the
heaviest lighting occurred along both
banks OF the Scarpe and around
Monchy-ic-P -PrcuS. where the British
Easter advance had projected a sharp
salient into the German lines. Monchy
was taken in the first phase of the
Arras battle. after three days lighting.
and has been held against desperate @
counterassaults
GERMANS THROW FULL FORCE
INTO THEIR RESISTANCE
The Germans always managed to
cling To the slopes on either side of
the hill on which Monchy le- Prcux is
perchcd. this being the highest point
east Of Arras and Nimy. overlook ing
The great broad eastern plains of
Northern France. The Germans to-day
were undoubtedly throwing. their full
force into their resistance along the
Scarrc. They had brought up strong
reserves I" oppose Il further British
advance. and had thrown in scores OF
new batteries OF artillery.
The hGhting about Gucmappc due
south Of Monchy. was extremely bitter
The attacking British waves went
over" in the half-cray light OF dawn.
1t was stili dark enough to make a
fiery spectacle Of the barraSc which
crcpt ahead Of thcm---a vcritahlc wall
of exploding shells. Men who have
been over several tunes under the pro-
lection Of a barrasc arc apt To grow a
bit ONcrContidcnt in following tho
shells, and occasionally get hit by bits
dying back. although virtually every
shell clearing tho WAY for tho infantry
bursts forward With II great spray OF
shrapncl bullets. y modern harragc
as set up hy tn" British aud French
EunncrS is terrifying thing to face.
and tho Germans inN",untarily break
before II, many nf them seeking any
luSouts available.
To-day ~ many parts of tho battle
front there were no more dugcuts to
serve as shelters. and tho Germans had
TO stand and fight. with tho result that
their casualties wcrc higher and the
prisoners fewer IN those sections OF
tho line.
BUITISH ADVANCE FROM
MERE UALF TRENCHES
Tho British advanced in nearly
every instance from mere half trenches,
where they had been lyins for tho past
(CoutiuuCu on Second pngcl