Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-04-16
Ger man Thl usts to
Reach HazebrouC
Are RepuIsed
Terrific Attacks Fail Eng
lish Forced To Fall Back
On Lys Line From Bailleul.
(By Associated Press.)

Tremendous pressure exerted by
picked fresh troops in the desperate
German effort to drive the British
from Messines Ridge has compelled
a slight retirement of the British line
on the northern side of. the Lys bat
been evacuated and the British front
withdrawn to a line running from
north of that town to the north of
Wulverghem and thence to Wyt-
schaete.
Wytschaete occupies the highest
point of the easterly ridge system ami
the British have been firmly estab-
lished here since the early days of the
enemy offensive. The Germans
are now apparently in a more ad-
vantageous position to attack it and
their expected drive upon it was re-
ported developing this morning. AS
1t forms the pivot of the British line
which bends here to the north. an ex-
tremely determined defense of it is
looked for from Field Marshal Haig's
troops ' 'f.
= Bad Setback for Defense.
Although the loss of Bailleul and
some Of the. comparatively high
ground around 1T such as Mount De
Ellie and Hevelsberg. represents a de-:
Icided setback foT the ..defepkc. the
British line eis still on ground sArsch7
higher than. the Germans occupy. The
British artillery thus Possesses nu-
merous vantage pointsafrom which it
can continuef'to pour in devastating
fire upon Athe attacking columns.
Mount KENNEL, which towers up
more than 400 feet from the low
ground about Wulverghem. two miles
to the southeast, Apparently Field
Marshal Haig's forces still have a
firm hold on all this valuable hill
region.
Important Attacks Repulsed.
What may, be called the frontal at
tacks of the Germans upon the ridge
system back Of Messines. Wytschaete
and Hollebeke furnish the spectacular
Feature of the operations as reflected
in today's news. One brief aragraph
in Field Marshal Haigs report. how
ever. has an Importance attached to
| it that should not be overlooked. 1t
records the repulse of heavy German
attacks southwest, of vieux Berquin
The German line here runs along
the easterly border of Nieppe wood.
in this region that the enemy hopes
to reach Hazebrouck. some five miles
! distant. and take this highly import
ant railway. Well nigh vital rail
communications to the Messines and
Ypres regions would thus be cut. The
British line is being strongly held in
this region, however, and the flank
ing movement shows no signs OF MAX
ing progress, as the report of the
IVieux Berquin engagement shows.
f. The German effort at present seems
fcentered upon the northern side of
fighting being reported from the
! southern sectors.
! New Drive Expccted.
| There are indications that the Ger
mans will start a drive on the south
/ fort to reach Bethune. The enemy
i artillery fire along a ten mile front
from Robecq to Givenchy Is increas-
ing in intensity and large bodies of
troops have been discovered behind
1.-THE German lines. The British line
there is about one mile north Of and
parallel to the Labasee canal Gil
venchy, held by the British. has not
been attacked since the repulse OF
strong enemy efforts last week.
Artnisc Offensive Spends Self.
! Like the drive In Picardy, the Of
lfensive in ;Artoise seems to have, worn
I itself out in the first week. The Ger
mans have ceased their attacks along
the entire front and .are confning
! their efforts. to- an endeavor to out
flank the Messines ridge. The cap
.ture Of Neuve Eglise. four miles west
OF Bailleul was, strategic gain Tor
4 them and they are row redouhling
A their efforts to take Bailleul. How
ever. their efforts south and southwest
Sof Bailleul, where they are within one
mile of the town, have been repulsed
sanguinarily for three days by Field
Marshal HaiE,s men. &,
Heavy Fighting Elsewhere.
Around ~ Wulverghent. between
.lNeuve Eglise and the Messines ridge,
4, heavy hEhting also Is going on. The
British have Strengthened n out their