Evening journal., 1918-04-10
WAR REVIEW

Frustrated in his efforts 10 budqe
he British from their positions
around Arras, Hindenhurg has struck
farther north.
In en- sll-day attack, following a
heavy bombardment yesterday, he
penetrated the line held Jointly by
British and Portuguese between la
6asSce ond Armentieres, IN Flanders,
and forced the Allies back 10 q
maximum depth OF four miles alona
q narrow front. Fighting was con-
Inning when the last official COM
muniques and STAFF correspondent
dispatches we're fled.
This attack was made on an II.
mile front from the La Bassee
canal northward. The canal is IA
miles north Of Arras The British
extreme left flank held firmly, but
The center gave ,yay between Neuve.
Chepelle, three miles north Of Ia
Bassee and Fauquissart, two miles
northeast Of Ncuvue-C -Chappolle. Here
the Allies were pushed back north
westward until they finally held on
the Lys river between Estaires, on
be north bank Of the Lys, four
miles northwest of Fauquissart and
Bac st. Maur, on the south bank,
three miles cast and north of
Estaircs. The important towns cap
tured by The enemy are: Layentie,
two miles north and west Of Fau-
quissarti Richehourg-st Vast, q
mile and half west Of Neuyue-
Chapelle and Fauquissart.
United Press dispatch from VIII
liam Philip simms, reported tho
Germans shoiling Bethune, an inn
pOrtant city four miles west OF
Givenchy, on the La Bassee canal
and other towns in the Arras sector.
Elsewhere on the British front
there were 10 important operations.
The German War Once In dcscrih-
ing the La Bassee-Armentires st.
tack said:
"North OF the La Bassee canal, we
penetrated into British aud Portu 4
guese positions"
On the extreme southern flank Of
the big offensive front, Berlin re-
ported the French had been thrown
back across the Oise-Aisne canal
"between Coucy.L Le-Chateau aud
Brancourt." The latter town prob
ehly is Bethancourt, two miles south
Of Coucy-Le-C Chateau.
The French War once admitted
this retirement in its day commune
que, but said French ertillery had
broken up enemy concentrations In
that region later. Violent artillery
lighting was described north OF
Montdidier In the Paris statement.
Hlndenburgs frenzied efforts 10
split the British line In Flanders and
roll tho northern fonk back upon
the North See, opening the way 10
the channel ports had spread into
Belgium today along o 20-mile front.
Haig reported the lighting which
broke out early yesterday oontin-
uing between the La Bassee canal
and the Lys river, while the British
positions as far north as the Ypres-
Confines canal were under q terrific
bomberdment. The Belgian frontier
crosses the battlefront az q sharp
bend In the Lys, about a mile north
Of Armentleres.
Between tho la Bassee canal and
Armentieres Halg said, the British
are holding on the Lys and Lave
rivers. The latter stream. floWmq
norihward through Bethune con-
verges with the Lys OF Lagorguge
| less than mile west Of Estaires
The Lys flows eastward IN o meand-
ering course through Armentieres.
! British troops, according to their
commander, are desperately contest
] inc the crossings al Egtalres and
Bac IT. Maur, three miles north
cast Of Estaires.
Fighting already has broken out
north Of Armentieres on the new
front under bombardment indlcat-
INC the Germans arc losing no time
in following up their cannonadmg
with infantry assaults. Thus, the
actual fighting has been carried
norihward into Belgium, probably
as far north as the famous town Of
PIoegsteert, three miles north OF
Armentiercs. other towns. made
famous by the war which Probably
will figures in this flghting arr
Holleheke on the Yprcs-C -Comines
canal, and Messines, midway between
Armenticres and Ypres.
The British not only are holdinq
on the southern flank Of this front,
but recaptured Giyenchy, two miles
west Of La Bassee. on the canal, by
counter attack, taking $50 prisoners.
South OF the Somme. Haig said
there was only local fighting on the
British front