Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-04-17
BRITISH DRIVEN
 BACK DESPITE
 HEROIC DEFENSE Overwhelming Numbers of Germans Launched on
 Haig's Armies. DISCR EDIT REPORTS AMERICAN REVERSE Ire Bcr!in Story of Beating Given Enemy by Pnrs!ling's Men Sun
 iay at St. MiI,ic. Sector.
GA. F. War Summary.)

Germany's mighty effort on the battlefield of Flanders has now won new successes, according to the latest reports. The important strategic towns of Bailleuil, Wulverghem and Wytschaete are in German hands and more important still, the Teutons have carried large part of Messines ridge by storm.
 Probably there has been no more bit ter struggle during the war then that which ragged along the battle line thru these towns. Neuve Eglise was taken Monday, but Bailcuil held on until fresh masses of German troops were hurried into the fray and charged re- peatedly on the tired defendants. The same story might be told of Wulver- ghem and Wytschaete while the bat tie of Messines ridge must have been frghtful in it's intensity.
 The Germans have not attempted to advance their wedge further into the British lines for no new attacks on Merville and further west have been reported They have devoted their sole attention to the work of widen ing out the salient and striking at
 
 ming about six miles north of Bail leuil. Messnes ridge is the key to the Ypres sector, and it's possession will give the Germans commanding posit- ion in starting a new drive.
 The successes of the Germans in the last day have an important bearing on the campaign on the northern bat tie front. Of they are continued there must be a British retirement from Ypres, and possibly for some distance further north; while the cutting of the railroad passing thru Hazebrouck would be still more serious, for the British. So important are the points won by the Germans, that the British must be expected to counter attack at once in an effort to sweep the invad- CTS back into the lowlands once more.
 All accounts of the battle along the line speak of the small British forces which attempted to withstand the at- tack by heavy legions of Teutons, which were brought up fresh for the assault.
 Still Hold flight Ground.
 There is higher ground irst to the north of Bailleuil and Neuye Eglise from which the British can still con- duct stern sdefense. Merville is standing, firm in spite of terrific at tacks against it. while along the southern side of the salient there have been no engagements report cd the same condition holds true in the sector before Amiens. where there have been only artillery dueYs.
 Raiding operations. in which both sides have taken the initiative ere reported from the French iron in Champaene.
 In spite of the renorts from th0 American front that German attacks there have been utter failures. re- port from Berlin via Amsterdam. St. Mihiel were taken bv storm hv the Germans, who held them against determined counter attacks. It is probable that the German report deals with the rattle in which the American administered sound beat ing to special shock troons. brought by tho Germans to take tho Ameri. can positions.
 Ten German trawlers have been sunk in the Cattegst the narrow strait between Jutland and Norway. hy British fleet. The survivors of the trawlers' crew were rescued.
 Secretary of war Baker has return ed to this country from q trip to France and Englsnd. While in En- rope. he visited various sectors along the front. and he comes back with first hand knowledge of the situa- tion. which may he exnected to be re- flected in official actions at Wash- ington in the near future.