The Washington herald., 1918-04-13
SUPREME TEST NEAR
HAIG TELLS BRITISH
AS BATTLE RACES
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
to Merville, which has been captur-
ed-seyen and one-halt miles.
ION the right, from Ploegsteert
to Neuve Elgise, three and one-half
miles.
SON the left. from Lestrem to
Merville-converging with the sweep
southwestwerd from Steenwerck-
two and one-haf miles.
At Neuve Eglise the Germans stand
four miles in the rear, southwest.
Of Wytschaete, which is the center
Of the White Sheet Ridge, and
eight miles beyond Ypres.
At Merville they stand eleven miles
TO the southwest of Armentieres and
eight miles northwest OF Bethune.
This vital railhead, Bethune, is their
chief objective in the south. With
it in their possession they hope to
turn the entire British Arras-Vimy
Ridge front and subsequently swoOp
down upon Amiens from the north
west
North OF the Lys. as Gen. Maurice
frankly announced, Bailleuil is in
danger. This important strategic
railhead. far in the rear, southwest
of Ypres. lies on the direct line To
Dunkirk. while Bethune, where the
Germans would be in the rear. north
west of Arras and Vimy, lies on the
straight rail to Calais.
The German northern army, driv-
ing toward Bailleuil, is commanded
by Gen. SiXt. Won Arnim. The south
ern force. aiming at Bethune in its
criss-cross advance on both sides
Of the Lys. is headed by Gen. Won
Quasi.
Germans Menace.
The less of Merville. admitted Of
fiCially by Haig in his day COM
munique. brings the menace of the
German center perilousIy close to
the British chief line of Communi-
cation feeding the whole northern
wing resting on the sea. for a
scant eight miles to the north of
Merville lies Hazebrcuck, on the
Lille-St Omer-Calais rail.
Throughout the German opera
tions, from the very beginning of
the Amiens battle. the Teuton
cOastward ambitions have been, and
are. accentuated by the directions
his various drives have taken. Via
Amiens, he means to reach the
coast at Abbeville: by way of
Bethune he aims at Boulogne. and
in the north. beyond Bailleuit. he
is lured by the coveted channel
ports of Dunkirk and Calais.
Washington Thrilled.
Official Washington was thrilled last
night by advices received here tell
ing of the stirring appeal made to the
British Army by Marshal Haig. call
ing upon them to stand to the last
man. until help, now on the way.
reaches the Flanders front.
officials were unable to say what
American contingents, if any. are in
the vanguard of the French forces
marching to Haig's rescue. Since the
agreement of President Wilson to the
plan of brigading American soldiers
with the French and British veterans
it is assumed that some of the boys
from the United States are in the
front ranks.
Official diplomatic dispatches re-
Ceived here report that the Germans
are endeavoring to split the Flemings
and Wauoons in Belgium by new tao
tics. 4 movement has been started
by the German authorities at Biege
to make it appear that the Walloons
are satisfied with German rule and
want to be separated from the Flem
ings. Persons known to be working
in the interest OF Germany have start
ed to form a league for an ''inde-
pendent WaIIonia.
The same tactics were tried in the
Flemish provinces some time ago, but
were met with such vigorous repUdi-
alton by all Belgian organizations
and authorities that they were barren
Of any result.
British Hold Line.
But there is one part of the British
front, a vital part, that has held. and
is holding. like granite. This is at the
extreme left of the German advance
far to the southwest of Armentieres.
between Givenchy and Bethune Here
the "Tommies" not only have held
their own against overwhelming odds.
but have struck back repeatedly and
sent the invaders back with bloody
heads. Between Loisne, northeast of
Bethune, and the Lave River, they
have administered a sanguinary check
10 lne Zoe 3 eHOrIS 10 push on
A significant fact is that the French
reinforcements on the way to this
crucial battlefield must necessarily get
to this sector first. since it is the
sOuthernnost part Of the twenty-five
mile attacking front between La
Bassee Canal and Ypres. Prompt in
tervention by these French reserves
here would spell a grave menace to
the whole German wedge, a menace
comparable to that which the French
Oise front and the Montdidier-Noyon
line presents to the German Amiens
salient. The Germans also delivered
some sharp local thrusts below Arras,
but without success. At Tilloy-Les-
Moffalines, a mile and a half to the
east Of Arras. the Teutons entered the
British advanced lines but were
quickly elected.
In the Amiens area, on both sid.
Of the Somme, there was Increase
artillery fightinG." HaiG announce
which may or may not mean an i'm
pending revival OF the great battlr
there.
Along the French front things were
generally quiet. The poilus won in
number of local patrol enterprises.
Liner Crosses Safely.