Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-04-17
Important Strategic Towns of
BaiIIeuI, WuIverghem and
WytSchaete WreSted From
British Hands,
MOST OF MESSlNES
RIDGE WON BY HUNS
German Victories During theI
Last Day or Two Have aDI
important Bearing on Cam
paign in the North,
ray nosslne IousnAl sesel.L lsAsIo wIssl

Germany's mighty effort on the bat
tlefield of Flanders has won new sue
cesses. According to the latest re-
ports, the important strategic towns of
Bailleul. Wulverghem and Wytschaete
are in German hands, and, more inn
portant still, the Teutons have car
ried large part of the Messines ridge
by storm.
Probably there has been no more
bitter struggle during the war than
that waged along the battle line
through the towns of Bailleul, Neuve
Eglise, Wulverghem and Wytschaete,
Neuve Eglise was taken Monday, but
Bailleul held out until fresh masses
of German troops were hurled into the
fray and charged repeatedly on the
tired defenders. The same story might
be told of Wulverghem and Wytscha-
etc, while the battle for Messines ridge
tnlfst have been frightful in its intens-
ity.
Ine Germans nave not attempted to
advance their wedge further into the
British lines. for no new attacks on
Merville and further west have been
reported. They have devoted their
sole attention to the work of widen
ing out the. salient and striking at
Messines ridge and the railroad run
ming about six miles north of Bailleul
Messines ridge is the key to the Ypres
sector and its possession will give the
Germans commanding position in
starting new drive.
What Hun Gains Mean.
The successes of the Germans in the
last day have an important bearing on
the campaign on the northern battle
front If they are continued. there
must be a British retirement from
Ypres and possibly for some distance
further north, while the cutting of the
railroad passing through Hazebrouck
would be still more serious for the
British. So important are the points
won by the Germans that the BritIb
must be expected to counter-attack at
once in an effort to sweep the invaders
back into the lowlands once more. All
accounts of the battle along this line
speak of the small British forces
which attempted to withstand the at
tacks by heavy legions of Teutons,
which were brought up fresh for the
assault.
There is higher ground just to the
north of Bailleul and Neuve Eglise
from which the British can still con-
duct a stern defense. Merville is stand
ing firm, in spite of terrific attacks
made against it, while along the south
ern side of the salient there have been
no engagements reported. The same
condition holds true in the sector be-
fore Amiens. where there have been
only artillery duels Raiding opera
tions in which both sides have taken
the initiative are reported from the
French front in the Champagne.
American Positions Taken.
In spite of the reports from the
American front that German attacks
there have been utter failures, Ber-
lin report via Amsterdam says that
the American positions near St Mihiel
were taken by storm by the Germans,
who held them against determined
counter attacks. 1t is probable that
the German report deals with the bat
tie in which the Americans administ-
cred a sound beating to special shock
troops brought up by the Germans to
take the American positions.
The Germans in Finland are ad-
vancing east of Helsingfors and are
encountering little IL any resistance.
Ten German trawlers have been
sunk in the Cattegat. the narrow strait
between Jutland and Norway, by a
British fleet. The survivors of the
trawlers' crews were rescued.
The British cabinet has decided to
introduce an Irish home rule bill in
Parlioment and il it is defeated in
the house of lords, a ministerial crisis
will follow. The home rule bill is con-
sidered as being supplementary to the
conscription bill, the provisions Of
which apply to Ireland.