The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-04-25
ENEMY ATTACK
LED BY TANKS
Germans Have Big Machines
to Precede the Storming
Infantry.
INITIAL ASSAULT FAILS
Bombardment Of Many Days
in Somme Region Had
Presaged Drive.
INITIAL ASSAULT FAILS
b. sAS Assoc5dfsd Pvess.

WITH THE British ARMY IN FRANCE,
April 24.-Hard lighting developed this
morning on the southern battle front,
the enemy attacking south Of the somms
along the line Of vilisrs-Brstonnsux
Hsngard- en- -Santarre, HaiIles and Cas-.
tel.
On the British sector. about villers.
Bretonneux, which nestles on a ridge
overlooking the long stretch Of the
somme Valley. was the storm centre.
and here the enemy had tanks in action
Three Of these engines Of war accom-.
panied the stormins infantry. which at
latest reports had battied forward into
the eastern outskirts OF the town. where
severe fighting took place.
From the sector came word that the
Germans had made very slight progress
The assault was preceded by a heavy
bombardment about villers- -Breton-
neux. At tho conclusion OF this prepa-
ration tho Germans suTsed forward
along the whole British front south Of
tho Somme. although it seemed evident
that they had lers-Bretonneux as
their ultimate goal because Of its don't.
mating position.
The nrst attack was thrown back. but
the enemy Immediately came forward
again. and this time met with more sue
cess. In the face OF heavy machine gun
and rine FIRE the Germans pushed on
toward the town. their three tanks lead
Ing. The British gave way slightly. and
The enemy got footing in the eastern
fringe OF the town.
Further north. little above the Albert
~ n,,t ~
s. o. s. for artillery protection about
o'clock this morning. and what appeared
to promise a serious attack began to
show. II turned out to be nothing more
pretentious than an attempted raid.
however. and the British artillery
smashed the enemy infantry as they were
leaving their trenches
Between Robeco and Givenchy-I-ez-I
Bassce there " as also considerable enemy
sheiling this morning. and the Germans
made small attack IN an attempt to
take a post near Givenchy But this
movement was stopped quickly by the
British fire. The British carried out
minor operations at Givenchy which re-
suited In the recapturs Of a s.'ong post
which the enemy held.
Trouble has been brewing IN the
Somme sector for Gays. the enemy main
tanning a bombardment Of more or less
yesterday Niiiers- -Bretonneux and sur
rounding places were shsiled heavily
| and this morning the bombardment was
Increased greatly.
On the northern battlefront the Ger
man artillery pounded the Entente al
| lied positions yesterday. especially In the
Robecq and Merville sector and this
morning an intense hombardment was
| put down In tho British positions on
| both sides Of the River Lave. Thus, a
large section Of the northern battlefront
was seething to-day.
| An attack above Alber, came after a
half hour bombsrdment by the enemy.
As the German infantry LEFT their
trenches the British deluged them with
! rifle and machine gun fire and forced
a hasty retirement.
A British operation yesterday over
1000 yard front in the Riez du Vinagn
sector was a complete success and
greatly improved the defending lines. A
nasty salient about 1900 yards wide
and about tho same depth had bulged
| into the British territory Just north OF
Ries du Vinage. by their attack the
British drove tho enemy from this
salient and Strengthened their line.