The sun., 1918-04-11
FOE GAINS ALSO ON LYS
Haig's Men Engaged Des.
perately ut Estaires and
Retakc Givenchy.
BATTLE LINE $50 MILES
South Of Oise-Aisne Canal
French Also Are Compelled
to Yield Ground.

LONDON. April 10.--The Germans
are shifting their attacks further and
further north and to-day tho heaviest
fighting was just below Ypres. The
entire Line now stretches out more
than 100 miles. although the attacks
to-day asains. tho British section
| were limited to tho northern twenty
miles. where TIE enemy penetrated a.
far as the villages OF wyschacte and
Ploegsteert ard Messines ridge, force
ing back the British line here about
! two mpes.
South Of Armentieres, toward Ia
Bassee, a stlll deeper salient was
driven into the British front. attain
| ing a maximum depth Of about six
miles at Estaires. where the British
are making a gallant stand. Just east
Of la Bassee the British in n desper-
ate counter attack retool> the village
Of Givenchy. with $50 prisoners: they
still hold Givenchy Hill. which domi-
Rates all this region.
Germans Crosse the iys.
In the fight.ns between Ar:nent:erso
! and La Basses Canal the Germans TOOK
! 5000 prisoners and 100 guns. Berlin rs.
ports tonight. ii In asserted also that
the Lys River has been crossed at sew.
erai points between Arment,eres ana
Estaires and That north Of Armsn.ieres
the Germsns have penetrated the Brit.
sh lines on both sides OF the Wasxten-
! Warneton line.
The Londcn Tones points out that al.
though the British sti!l hold tile crest u
Messines ridge the real danger. If the
Germans continue to mako progress In
! this district. ia that possession OF the
valuable ridges east OF Ypres might he
, 'n'psrili.d. It suggests that on the out
come oe tie present battle the whoiS
fortunes ot the British and French
sinlies may turn.
! On tie southern part Of the battle
front. south of the Disc. the Germans
, msde further gains. Berlin reports, driv-
Ing ac-ofs tGe o.se-A!sne Canal again
! in -he Folembray sector. Tho village
Of Eansa-i-en-Saaterr in tho Amiers
sector. was the scene OF desperate
! ffghtlng. during which Il has changed
hands several times. finally remaining n
| tao hands OF the French. who also won
possession OF tie cemetnry near BY
Wrst oc Castel and west OF Eoyoa
German attempts Tn advance were
checked. Heavy losses We're inflicted
, upon the1n
Describing The heh'inx in the north
! Reuters correspondent at the front
SAYS that the battle which began yes
terday morning continued to-day with
n'!abated violence between La Basse and
fleurbaix. The artillery duel has ca
tended southward to Arras
Massed Attacks Coutinue.
Tie Germans have brought Tito
action tremendous concentration OF
artillery and are throwing in their IN.
| fantry in dense lnasses They are
plainly making another effort to break
through III. British positions. he Do.
clares.
"On the Messines front tive enemy's
attack to-day was ,Npuised." Major
Gen, +, f. Maurice, Chief Director of
Military Operations az the War Once.
announced this afternoon.
The enemy has obtained no footing
on the high ground anywhere" I've Went
on. "\rInent!eres is now little more
than heap o. ruins and rs los. would
rot be vital matter. IT IL NOT !o.;
yet and we hope It will not bc. hut I,
may be.
The German gains to-day, in con-
junction with the results OF mis- attack
yesterday, have placed Ar,neat.eres In
an awkward salient.
Portuguese Suffered Heavily.
The Germans captured a considerable
part o! Ploessteer' Wood. Gen Maurice
said. In the Hehting yesterday the
enemy advanced in the centre to depth
Of $500 Yards" he added. at il quite
certain we lost some guns In an ad-
vance TO such n dcpth con nsiderab!A
Portuguese artillery must have been
lost, and probably number Of prisou-
ers."
line of the A.let.e River two Frencl,
hsttslons were cut of. and the Germans
took about 1000 prisoners said Gen
Maurice. The withdrawal Of tho French
was made on account OF an awkward
corner In the line.
"The latest fighting" the General went
on, SHOWS that the enemy is merely
carving ont another CHAPTER IN his Ct
fort 20 exhaust the British army Hin
first scheme was to cut off the Britisf,
from the French That failed. Now he
| IL attacking wherever he sees a favorable
: chance. with tho idea OF bleeding us
white n he can.
Rethune Also In Danger.
IN yesterdays Sighting the enemy
transferred the scene OF his operations
20 the front between Armentieres and
, Bcthune. The ground OF the main at
tack vas held in the centre by n Portu-
sucse division with n British division
, ON each Nauk. The main blow fell on
: the Portuguese.
"The terrain .s an absolutely fiat
, alluvia, plain with no feature Of any
, technical advantage. but an awkward
, salient has been made into .our line
!, whence the enemy may attack e',h~
|. Bathune In the south or Armentisres In
. tho north. II
III '0fsat importance attaches 70 tlAe
= AgA1ieG asepaS 0ivsnehy. bscSSes tn
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