The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-04-12
Remains OF City Filled With
Fumes Hanging There From
Gas Shell Bombardments.
BRITISH RETAIN RIDGE
Hspnise Repeated Attacks on Mes
sinss Positions in Fierce Hand to
Hand Fiehts-kaiser Plans
Wipino Out 1ritain's Forces.

Paris, April IA German at.
tack in the Champagne has been
broken mp by the French fire.
Armentieres Evacuated.
Armentieres has been evacuated by
the British. while ethe Germans, driv-
ing In from the southwest of the
town, are struggling to push forward
in the area southwest OF Messines
Ridge. the, keypoint OF the British
line in Flanders The British have
retired to new positions lhree miles
west OF Armentieres.
Messines Ridge Objective.
Messines Ridge Itself has been the
objective OF desperate frontal at
tacks, and the Germans are reported
to have pushed or to the ridge sew
eral times during the fierce hand 10
hand lighting. Each tine, however.
the British came back at them with
effective counter-attacks and today
were still holding the ridge
Armentieres Full Of Gas.
Armentieres Is reported full CT gas
by General Haie. West of Armen.
there's the enemy struggling In his
deep salient, has pushed the fighting
TO the limit and at one time succeed.
ed in driving some three miles be-
yond the river Lys to Lacheche. In
this situation the British likewise re.
acted strongly and by vigorous coun-
ter-attacks ousted the Germans.
Wytischaete. South OF Messines,
was also the objective OF heavy Ger
man attacks aud possession of II
changed several times but Thursday
found Field Marshal Haig's troops
holding the town.
Without Strategic Value.
There was similar hard fight for
Lestrem, at the western tip OF the
German salient on the River Lave.
The Germans worked their way into
this place Wednesday but were un-
able to move on further and ultimate
ly were driven out of 1t and back
across the Lave.
The evacuation OF Armentieres had
been discounted as the place is with
out strategical value. What Is left OF
the town is full OF gas, hanging there
from the copious gas shell lombard
ments.
No Let Up In Battle.
North OF Armentieres the British
position hinges on Ploegstreet and
ploegstreet wood which the line bi
secte6 this morning
There was no let up in the engage
ment Thursday. the battle continuing
on the entire Is mile front from La
Bassee north to the Ypres-Comines
canal just below Ypres.
Aim to Wipe Out British.
Emperor William and the German
military leaders In the present often
sive, it Is reported in dispatches from
the battle front, plan the wiping ou
of the British army. 1t Is believed
that the Germans now are seriousl,
attempting by swinging their attacks
to the north. to annihilate British re
sistance. In consequence, further as
saults along the British front ant
much desperate fighting is expected
Heavy Big Gun Firing.
Infantry fighting on the Picard.
battle front has Quieted down momen
tarily. The French and German al
tillery fire has been violent north O
Montdidier and along the Oise cana
northwest of Scissors. There hav
been artillery exchanges on the Bril-
ish front which has not yet bee
linked up with the northern battle
field. There has been no infantr
activity on the Loos-Lens-Vimy sex
tor. the connecting link, although tn
German artillery fire Is increasing.
BUY L. I. BONDS -