The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-04-20
Germans Exhausted by En-.
forts and Do Not Renew
Infantry Attacks.
DELAY AIDS ALLIES
They Improve Their Posi-
tiOns and Bring Fresh
Men to the Scene.
ENEMY FORCE SHATTERED
Some BattaliOns Lose as Many
as 40 Per Cent. In Effort
to Break Through.
ENEMY FORCE SHATTERED

Special Cable Defpdtch to TNE SrN.
Copyright, 1918; all riohts reserVed.
LONDON, April 19.--The German ef.
fort yesterday to break the fifteen
mile front from Givenchy to Nicrps
Wood. which was repulsed with the
heaviest losses, was followed to-day
by an almost complete lull In the
fighting on all the fronts. The Brit
ish with the cooperation Of the French
have held the line practically un-
changed despite the overwhelming
masses thrown against them. Reen-
forcements are being brought UP and
the British and French are consoli-
dating their lines.
Tho important line OF the ridges
stands firm. While the Germans have
secured foothold On parts OF the
lower slopes they have been unable.
to gain any higher ground. Between
six and eleven German divisions
strove to pierce the line Of La Bassee
Canal between Givcnchy and st. We
nant and to break down the defence Of,
tho coal basin and Pas de Calais. bu.
they failed.
Preparing New Attacks.
Both the British and the German
night statements. say there was no
change in the situation to-day, but
there is evidence that the Germans
are preparing for the resumption Of
their attacks In the Wytschaete sector.
Berlin asserts that the French at
tempt TO straishten out their lines
near Moreuil broke down. with heavy.
losses, while Paris reports both the
taking OF more prisoners and the ad
vance of the line to Castel.
The object Of the German attack al
Givcnchy Is obvious. The enemy IS
extremely anxious TO enlarge the front
OF his assault there, and Givenchy,
one OF his first objects in beginning
| tho battle of the Lys valley. was
actually lost for a time, and then re-
covered by magnificent British coun-
W. 'tttst'h. iiS oSI siaNC pSCi'
| hampered in their movements to en-
velop Bethure by their failure to take
! Givenchy. and are now attempting to
remove this spearhead which sticks
/ into the flank OF the Germans In their
advance westward into the valley Of
! the Lys.
II ,s possible that the vicious attack
, on the Givenchy-St. Venant front was
| intended to cover a concentration for an
assault elsewhere. such as 'has been IN
dicated in the ncighborhood OF Arras.
! Battle Near Decisive stage.
French critics are OF the opinion that
! the battle has reached stage where
! three hypothesis may be made. Tha
| first is that the Germans may succeed
! in forcing way through the Yprcs dis
| trict In the direction Of Poperinghe, the
consequences OF which would be ex-
trcmely serious with respect to the Brit
ish communications and the safety o:
the channel ports.
The second probability IL that the Ger
| mans Will no held on the battlehelds Of
Ypres and the Lys. where they already
have paid q h!ghs price III life for their
efforts.
The third hypothesis IS that the Ger
mans may repeat their efforts on ar
other part Of the front, which. IN French
fopin.on. would Indicate that Won Hin
| denburg had lost the battle OF the I.ys
and lost the battle OF Amiens and it
would mean that the loss of two-th!rds
Of his army had been in vain.
How Germans Have Failed.
| In resume Of the course of the ba,...
since March 81 the military eomncnta-
| tor OF the Manchester Guardian says:
| "Ger!nany's successes all have been
| tactical. not strategical. inasmuch AS
| none OF their projected coups has come
on" lie summarizes their attempt to
| cut between the French and British
armies by an advance on wide front.
the main point on which. however. .Swas
down the valley Of the Disc toward
Paris. This failed. as the French were
too quick and closed that gateway.
The point Of attack was then shifted
toward Amiens; here again the advance
was brought, temporarily at any rate.
to a standstili before II could attain
It's object, which was to separate the
f! French and British armies by spear
| thrust on the line OF the Somme and
! between the Ancre and the Somme.
| The Germans again failed TO make the
headway they counted upon or TO break
the Allies lines.
Then began the massed drive between
Arras and Ipres. In the valley Of the
Lys. the main object Of which was to get
astride Of tho main road west OF Ypres
and cut of British communication with
the army to the north. This I title II
still in progress. but the results OF the
last few days indicate that its objects
also will not bs achieved.
With the time whic,, they have had
10 make the necessary dispositions tha
Allies present positions would lie good.
Even Il the Germans made faster prog
ress in ths.. advance the Ypres army
could retire in good order The arrival
of French resnforcements and the sue
cesstul withdrawal Of the British from