The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-04-10
Allies Driven Back tONeuve
Chapelle by Attack in
French Flanders.
HARD FIGHTING ON LYS
Terrific BOmbartlment Fol-
lowed by Fierce Onslaught
Made in a Mist.
CENTRE LINE HOLDS FIRM
French Under Heavy Pressure
Compelled to Retire Upon
the Oisc-Aisnc Canal.
CENTRE LINE HOLDS FIRM

LONDON. April e.--Ovcr an eleven
mile front from Givcnchy to Ia
Bassee the Germans attacked the
British to-day. driving In the line held
by British and Portuguese troops to
depth Of four miles at one or two
points. The ground was gained only
after tremendous bombardment and
infantry attack Of the greatest sever
ity. in which the Germans paid dearly
for every foot Of ground gained
Field Marshal Haig in his report
tonight admits tho loss Of Laventie
and Richebourg-St. WAIST, two small
villages.
The shift in the centre Of the main
German operations was by no means a
surprise. and it found the allied troops
fully prepared. Tho fighting line now
ia extended over IL front OF more than
hundred miles. practically all Of
which Is involved in the great battle.
Against the French the enemy also
made some gains. Keeping up his stub
born attacks in the region OF Coucy for.
est. he finally compelled the defenders
to give ground. Crossing the Ailette In
force. the invaders took Courcy.le- Cha.
teau by storm and occupied other nearby
positions.
Little Fighting Near Amiens.
The Amiensi sector was practically
neglected in to-days fighting, although
the blows around Coucy undoubtedly
constitute menace To scissors and
C'oinpeigne and the valuable railroad
connecting those cities and reaching to
An,iens.
The concussion or the great guns in
the Armentteres sector shook the coun-
tryside for miles around. The artillery
played all along the greater part Of tho
old line south OF Arras, but the infantry
III most o: this region kept to i,s
trenches except in cases of isolated al.
tacks.
The attack uron the British and Port
uRuess was favored by Il heavy mist;
The allied troops fought all day, giving
only little ground AT a time The Port.
uguese We're in the centre and the Brit
ish on efher flank On one Of the Brit.
ish TANKS. between Estairos and Sac-su-
Maur. where there was a slight retire
ment OH the River Lys line, the struggls
was especially sanGuinary.
The British lines held abou; G.NencI,y
and FleurDaiN and the Germans were
repulscd
An Associated Press correspondene
with the British army says that east OF
lie Flantsn and east of Petition the
enemy appeared 20 have gained a footing
In advanced defences, according to the
latest reports. and fierce battle was
raging all along the sec tor lie Plant;a
Is northwest Of Giverch- and Petition
lea TO the cast Of Laveniic
Heavy Fighting Continues.
At Givenchy and on tie LETT Of tho
front attacked the Allies apparently are
holding their ground IN the very heavy
lighting. which was reported To be es-
pecia.!y bitter east OF Frstu1eIt. The
Portuguese were being supported by
British troops
Bethune, t.stairs and other towns nc.
hind the British lines nave been heavily
sheled.
1t Is too early to say what relation
TINS new move has with the main Ger
nan offensive further south. Only tina
VIII tell whether il was undertaken as n
diversion, or whether tho enemy has a
serious idea OF pushing forward here