Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1918-04-20
The World War

Seven days after the Germans
launched their gigantic assault against
the British lines between Lens and
Ypres the momentum Of their attack
has been broken and the waves OF the
Teutonic forces are recoiling before the
rock Of the British defense. While
the Germans have made gains OF
ground and have driven a wedge into
the Allied lines to considerable
depth, they seem to have failed IN their
attempt to break through or take I'M
portant railroad functions.
During the last day there have been
bitterly fought engagements at four
places, all on the northern side OF the
salient to the south Of Ypres. Seven
assaults against the British trenches
at Merville, near the apex of the tr1'
angular dent in the British line have
been hurled back by the British. Neuve
Eglise, on the extreme southwestern
spur Of Messines Ridge, has been taken
by the Germans after struggle which
will go into history as one of the great
est of the past week.
The British, however, have not re-
tired far, and it is probable that they
will at once organize counter-attack
to force the Germans out OF the town.
which, If held, might be "kicking-on
point for an attack which might out
flank and make untenable Messines
Ridge, the key to the British positions
about Ypres Balleuil and Wulverghem,
between Neuve Eslise and Mervllle,
also have been the scenes Of hard
fighting, but, except for Neuve Eglise,
the northern side of the salient has
stood firm; cl the southern side OF
the salient, according to Berlin. fierce
struggles have been fought.
It has been the German plan of cam
paign since March q, when the great
offensive started, to strike hard at
some particular sector, and If that
blow was parted to turn powerfully
against some new point. This pro-
cedure probably will be followed In the
next few days by new assault some
where south of Arras. An attack north
Of Ypres is hardly possible, for the
lowlands Of Belgium are as yet too
water-logged to permit active opera
tions. An attack on Arras would en-
tail the hurting of troops against Vimy
Ridge, the Labyrinth and other for
midable military works protecting that
city.
It may be that the savage fighting
reported at ACCOMPLISHMENTS, south
of Albert and on the center of the line
facing Amiens, may mark the begin
ming of a new attempt to sweep west
ward toward Amiens. So far the fight
ing has brought the Germans only
losses in men and ground. Further
south, near Montdidier, there has beer
intense artillery firing, but the Ger
mans have not attempted infantry ope
rations in his important sector.
German troops have entered Hell
singfors, the Finnish capital. 1t wa:
reported last week that the Russian
warships which have been there hat
made their escape and had reached
Kronstadt, the great Russian nava
base.
) American forces near Toul are stand
ing firm before heavy attacks by tn
! Germans and have held their line
intact in spite of all the weight of mel
and metal the enemy has loosed agains
| them The Germans have lost heavily
The constant German attacks in thl
sector may have some bearing on tn
l development of the German offensiv
| cam paign, and much interest in tn
: situation throughout the region he'll
l by General Pershing's men is ev
: denced by the Allied leaders.
Coincident with the report of tn
: acceptance of the resignation of Coun
f Czernin, the Austro Hungarian premier
n comes a report of serious 0utbrea
t Of the Czechs at Prague, which f0
e many months has been reported to b
e seething with anti-pan-Germanisn
: Bohemians or at least the Czechs m
: nority in that country object to tn
s creation of German governme1
there, but the incident may be MOI
e significant than has SO far appeare
It The Slavic races Of Bohemia have Ion
been standing out against the &c
e manization of their country, and IL
E. outbreak at Prague may be only a
g other indication Of the deep-seated o
It position to the war aspirations Of Il
a. Central Powers.
T.