The Robesonian., 1918-04-18
SUMMARY OF WAR NEWS.

More Encouraging Reports to Allied
Powers-British Have Retired From
Certain of Their Lines in Ypres Sal
jent-Unconfirmed Reports From
Berlin.
More encouraging reports to the
Allied powers came during the past
dav out of the chaos of the tremen-
dous battle along the Lys river south
and southwest of Ypres, the thunder
of which, press dispatches say, may
he heard 40 or SO miles away. The
British not only had held all the
ground they were defending Tuesday,
hut struck back so powerfully that
Meteren and part of Wytschaete were
taken and held for a time. Only af
ter heavy attacks did the British
retire again fron& .hese villages.
A disturbing report comes from
Berlin that Poelcapelle and Lange-
marck, north of Ypres, have been
taken by the Germans, and London
admits that the British have retired
from certain of their lines in the
Ypres salient The retirement nel
was expected, for the advance of the
Germans at Neuve Eglise and Ba.--ecl
left the positions in front of Ipres
open to flank attack. 1t is officiall-
stated that the retirement was order
ly and that it probably will nave
more of a sentimental than strate-
pic effect. Just how far the British
lines had been withdrawn was not
known this morning, but it was
thought that the German claim OF
taking Poelcapelle and Langemarck
was the result of the British retire
ment.
The battle, now in it's ninth day,
has deepened in intensity at many
points along the curved front north
from Messines ridge to Metefen. he
ports that the Germans had occupied
the village of St. Eloi, which lies
less than 3 miles south OF lpfes
and that they had taken positions on
the south slope of Mt. KENNEL: abou1
two and half miles north Of Wui-
verkham, had not been confirmed TINS
morning. E.
Messines ridge southwestward: 1hs
Germans have flung themselve:
against the granite call OF the -''
dispatches have told of 5-.' -ightfu
losses inflicted on y attacking
masses of troors -, t British rlfi'
and machine gur re.
On the s,a...ern side of the salien
there lave oeen engagements OF SOM
MIS-: :. .e, especially east OF Robesco
& miles northwest of Bethune
where the Germans were caught b.
the British artillery fire and scatter
ed. =,
The line in front of Arras ha
again been the scene of fighting: bu
here the British took the otfensiv
and drove the Germans out OF brltls
trenches which had been carried b
the enemy.
In the Picardy sector there has bee
lively artillery engagements oetwee
the Somme and Disc rivers, but oni
patrol encounters are reported OH
cially.
The Turks announce that they hay
taken the city of Batum, on the cas-
ern shore of the Black Sea. They r
port strenuous fighting before tt
Russian defenders of the city we
drawn out.
Baron Stephen Burian Won Ra!e
has succeeded Count Czernln as &c
eipn minister of Austria Hungar
coming back to the Office ne reh
ouished in December, 1916. :,
The Macedonian front has again ?
come active Greek and bflel
troops have advanced and driven
Teutonic allies from seven low
along the Struma river on the easee M
end of the line. French forces ha
also been active in this theatre
the war. go,
Thirteen persons were killed and
wounded in Mondays long-range 20
bardment Of Paris.
Germans Made Important Cams 1a
day.
The imnortant strategic towns
Bailleul. Wulvergham and WytscAa'
were captured by the Germans, ~
day, and, more important sIlei' r
Teutons carried large pafV ol Al
sines ridge by storm.
Probably there has been 10 II, ~,
bitter struggle during. the war u
that waged, along the baI'.e
through the towns OF Ballieui, Ne'
Eglise, Wulverghem and WysSsna
Neuve Eglise was taken Moncisy
Bailleul held out until fresh masses
German troops were hurled into
fray and charged repeatedly on
tired defenders. The same
:. might be told Of Wulverg' '.e-:l
Wytschaete, while the tattlt e
@.r Messines ridge must havs v~~ -:
full in it's intensity.