The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-29
DEADLOCK STILL
HOLDS ON THE SCARPt
Hindcnhurg Hastens to Front to Aid
i'm Holding of the Wotan Lime
at All Hazards
BRITISH MAKE GAINS.
BITTERLY OPPOSED
Germans Bring Up More Heavy Nrtii-
icry IN Desperate Effort to Stem
Tide OF British Advance

London April 2s.--Along the ten
mile front on the river once called
the scarpe. now better known as the
River OF Blood. and Lens the queen
city Of Frances coal district, Britons
and Teutons clashed anew at dawn
today, As dusk envefoped the battle
. field tonight. and the big guns be-
gan to rear with wild jealousy, try
ing IL wrest the action from their
human rivals, the infantry OF Briton
and Teuton Was still locked in a
clutch from which no prying loose
seemed possible. And the number of
men battling on this ten mile front In
conseryatively put at 100000
The initiative throughout the day
Was with the British. Great Britain
tonight Was confident that the net re-
+ suit viii be the cave-in of the Wotan
| line. Hindenhurg's great buiwark of
steel and flesh barring the road to
Douai The progress registered BY the
British In the huge see-saw battle held
promise OF such a cave-in. The Brit
ish We're tonight reported to have en-
tered Oppy the northern pivot Of the
auxiliary position. right in front of
the Wotan line. Arleux village imme-
diately adjoining also was said TO have
fallen to them.
Hindenburg on Ground.
Persistent rumor today had it that
Hindenburg himself was directing the
Teuton defense From the map room
of the general STATS field headquar-
ters. where for three anxious weeks he
has been leading his legions on paper.
he is said TO have fastened to the
front.
True or not. everybody believes it,
1T must he So" one feels.
The old man mus he back on the
job" For nothing but the hypnotic
presence of Father Hindenburg"
could inspire the Teutons to such
reckless, death -defying tenacity as
they are displaying today in the face
OF the unceasing blows OF Sir Douglas
Haig's man and gun hammer,
We are making good progress in
the face of considerable opposition,
said the day communique from British
headquarters
Correspondents at the front. as il
afraid to tempt fate by premature
patches today in tenor of unpre-
cedented conservatism.
Bcrlin'S official conmunique con-
tanned two significant passages today
one says that the Germans fought
the British batteries with appreciable
effect" This is taken to indicate that
Hiudenburg means to hold the Wotan
line at all cost: that he has not only
not moved his big guns. capable OF
heavy counter-flre, but that he has
brought up additional artillery. The
second important statement Is that
infantry lighting was embarked upon
on the whole front between Loos and
St. Quentin.
Fresh German divisions-many OF
.thenl---have been identified from pris-
oners taken today.
ForcshadOws Important Movement.
The Swiss frontier Is reported
closed, which means. II is believed,
that important troop movements are
still under way behind the Teuton
lines. On the Franco-German front
there were today futile German coun-
ter-attacks and some successful
French raids. notably one on the Yer
dun front. on German trenches on
Hill No. 304.
since April Is. Paris announces, the
French have captured ITS cannon OF
all calibres, Az machine guns and 119
trench cannon. The total number Of
German prisoners has reached 20.7S0.