The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-05-03
British Army, Now Supported by
French Troops, StlIl Holds
Back the Germans.
DRAWS BACK EAST OF YPRES
Huns FIght Furlously 70 Capture the
Measlnes Ridge and Bsthune--seere.
tary Baker Returns to Speed
Americas Men Across sehwab
Heads shiphuIldInu.
By EDWARD ". PlckARp.

~ ECWftFt9 W. ElkkAHDs
Al the end Of another week OF the
most nngulnary battle the world has
ever known. the British army was stlll
undestroyed its lines attn unbroken.
Overwhelmingly outnumbered In Elan
ders, Hugs men were forced 10 give
up some important positions, and east
OF Ypres they withdrew from the bulg-
ting Passehendaele salient before the
enemy observed the movement, and
strengthened and shortened their de-
fenslve line so that II was much
stronger and more secure. Meanwhile
French re.enforcements arrived TO as
slst the british. the commanders hav-
ing decided that the Flanders offensive
WINS not merely diversion. To the
south. ON the Somme and the Alsne,
the French had been stoutly repulsing
every attnck. aud Il was predicted
that the time was near whom General
Foch, the allied commander ia chief.
might be expected 10 start his counter.
offensive. Though they were stlll
bringing fresh divisions into the bat
tie. II was figured the Germans must
be approaching the point OF exhaus
non, when a return blow would he
most effective. Indeed. II did not
seem this blow could be much longer
delayed for the british, though their
spirit and courage we're undlminished.
were sustaining continuous attacks by
an enemy which was immensely superl
or IN numbers and was under leaders
whose disregard for life was utterly
reckless
-
At the beginning OF the week the
Germans. finding they could not make
much progress toward Bethune AZ
the south part of their salient, because
Of the stubborn resistance OF the Brit.
,sh at Glvenchy. Festubert and LOGON.
turned 70 the north and undertook 70
flank Yprcs by driving the British
from the Ballteul-Neuve Egllse. wul.
yerRhcm- IlOliebeke line. For two
days the attacks Of the Huns were
beaten back with fearful slaughter,
but then Field Marshal Halg was com.
PEELED 20 give ground and retired from
part of the famous Messlnes ridge, ut
the same time drawing his lines nenrer
20 Ypres There was stili higher
ground at his rear however, and his
generals and men displayed a cheerful
optimism that contrnsted with the de-
preston caused Ia England and, 10
considerable extent. In America by
what looked like serious reverses.
Not Tor minute ala the men who are
doing the aghting admit that they
were beaten or could be beaten hy any
Borccs Hiudeuhurg could bring against
them. and though the Hun. when he
Aad taken naiileul was within "a
miles Of nunklrk. they still had no idea
~ permitting him to force his way to
the coast
IN the effort 20 reach the In Bassee
ANAL and take Hazehrouek, the enemy,
after intense artillery preparation, at,
tackled along the front from Meteren
10 Roheca. hut was repulsed az almost
every point and sustained heavy
losses. The allied artillery was espe-
elai,y effective here aud east % BE
,hupe and the Germans found I, ~.
I IVost impossible to bring up their
transport trains.
On Thursday the ehemy resumed
( bis attacks IA the Rethune region
throwing q number of light bridges
aCrUss Ia Bassce canal near LOGON,
These WIRE swept away hy the British
artillery ard maehine-gun Ore aud
large Numbers o. Germans were killed
Again and Rsatn the Germans re-
newed the attack, using more than
t26n00 fresh troops on the i2.mile
,uoat between ST. venant and Given.
civ, but each time they were thrown
hack with appalling losses. French
lAfantry and batteries eo-operated
with Hays farees
-
Save fsr certain engineer units. the
4 laeriraE traSps had not vet been en-