The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-04-26
Germans Divert Their Attack to
Flanders, Again Failing to
Break Through.
BLOODY FIGHT AT GlVENCHY
kaIaer Seeks to Annihilate British
Army--Amercan Now In Great
Rattle--Prenler Lloyd George
Proposes CONSUMPTION for
ireland.
by EDWARD w. PlckARp.
They shall not pass

lhey snail not pass.
Not CLOSING over the increasing
seriousness Of the German offensive
ON the west front, not making vain
boasts, hut with unfnlterIng courage
and degged determination, all the
allies, French, British, Americans and
Portuguese, IN F'rnnee and Belgium
have adopted the yerdun slogan and
refuse 10 LEI the Huns break through
their line. Weary and battered.
drenched with gas and explosive shell,
pushed back here and there by power
full attacks Of massed infantry, greatly
outnumbcred all along the line. they
cling as long as possible to every de-
fensive position and exact terrible
price for every yard OF terrain they
give up.
Failing 70 push his way through to
Amiens. the kaiser last week turned
his attention 10 Flanders, and after
three days Of intensive bomhardment
attacked the British on a % mile front
Of which Armenticres was the center
In the three days Of fierce infantry
fighting that followed the Huns showed
back the British and Portuguese line
sGme 1--WE miles between Armcntleres
and Giyenehy, and three miles at the
north ~ the former city, ON Thursday
the British retired from Armentleres,
which Il Of little Importance as Il STRAIT
| cgic point ana Is now but heap OF
ruins, They also had abandoned sew.
eral villages but stiil dominated the
| battlefield from MeSslnes ridge ON the
/ north ana Givenchy ON the south The
latter place was the scene OF the blood
lest fighting, being taken and retnken
several times. The British were out
numbered there more than four 20 one,
but defended Il splendldly and retain
/ I'd possession Of the town which Is
situated on high ground The losses OF
the Germans here rs well as elsewhere
were very heavy, aud considerable
number Of them were captured
Though the Immediate object OF the
/ Germans IN this sector apparently Is
10 take Rethune, nm Important center
Of British operations ana then by a
| wheeling movement push on 10 the Eng
fish channel. their greater purpose, ac-
eordlug 10 prisoners and captured doc
umcnts. Is nothing less than to annihi-
tate the British army, II is expected
that the kaiser viii direct his full
strength to the accomplishment Of this
aim aud that the hattie Ia Flanders
| win be considerably extended 20 the
north and continued with desperation
Ia
/ on the southern front OF the Ger,
man salient the French. AZ the begin
ming 81 the week. withdrew 10 the wesI
bank Of the Aiyette river IN the CoueS
region. thereby rectifying their lines
and leaylnE to the Germans the marsh
IS OF the Disc. Since then the enemy
have been greatly harrassed by IN,
Freneh outposts and have been unable
10 carry IN any operations IN tbs
swampy ground A little further I,
tho west Chauny has ,ieen the centel
OF furious struggles but UP 10 the tim'
Of wsitlng the Frcnea mad repulse,
every attack. and were IN possessloi
Of the town and the nearby cemetery
For the present. at least. Amien
seems 10 be safe for, though the artil
Iery actlsity Ia that sector has beei
continuous and violent, Infantry oper
atoms almost ceased during the week
"a
As has been said, the allies do no
seek 10 mlnlmlze the menace In th
successes the Huns have gained. bu
their commanders are as confident a
sver that the kaiser cannot accomplis
ais aims. ind the men In the rank