The sun., 1918-04-26
Villers.BretOnneux Recap
tured by English and
Australian Troops.
600 PRISONERS TAKEN
Germans Assert They Cap
turcd 1000 French in
Fighting on Avrc.
KENNEL REPORTED LOST
Enemy Hurls $4,000 Men
at Line Between Bailleul
and Wytschaetc.
KENNEL REPORTED LOST

LONDON, April 26-After an all day
struggle OF the greatest intensity
along the northern edge OF the Lys
salient the British and the French aid
ing them there we're forced to-day to
withdraw from their positions between
BailIeul and Wytschaete. the latter on
the northern end Of Messines Ridge
and the former half way between that
point and Hazebrouck. the most i'm.
portant railway junction point in that
part Of France.
Fighting In this region was particu-
larry violent In the neighborhood of
Dranoutre. KENNEL and Vierstrant.
An unconfirmed report received during
the day stated that the Germans had
won the summit OF Mont KENNEL a
hill Of more than 400 feet height just
west OF Wytschaete, which dominates
the whole Of that section Of the line.
Its loss would very likely entail .
withdrawal from Ypres and perhaps Of
the whole British line in Belgium. Tho
report is not considered probable; II Ia
more likely that II the Germans have
captured KENNEL it was the village Of
that name at the foot OF the hill and
not the hill itself.
French Counter Attack Fails.
The Germans are said to be using
six divisions. about $4,000 men. In this
| northern attack over seven mile
| front from Wytschaete to Meteren,
just west OF Bailleul. Berlin reports
that strong French counter attack IN
this region against the heights OF
Vluegelhoek broke down and that local
| assaults and raids by the Allies north
west Of Bethune. near Festubert (west
OF La Bassee). and on both sides Of the
Scarpe. near Arras. brought them no
gains.
1t is asserted also that in the opera.
tions yesterday In this area and in the
south, In the Amiens salient, the Ger.
mans took more than 1000 prisoners,
four cannon and numerous machine
guns.
! Villers-Bretonneux Recovered.
In this sector south Of the Somms
! Australian and English troops delivered
, e series of brilliant counter attacks last
night and finally won back the positions
| In and abou. Ni!ers- Bretonneux, east
OF Anhens. that the Germans had taken
, during the day. The British line was
carried onward TO within a short dis
| tance OF the former front" says Field
Marshal IIaig in his report tonight
The village is now in British hands
together with more than 500 prisoners
captured by ,ien. Ha!gs troops.
The Associated Press correspondent.
with the British army in France says
that not only has Nillers- Rretonneux
been cleared ~ the enemy, bu' large
portion ~ the original positions north
and south of II Nave been reclaimed.
German dead are hoaped about the un-
happy town
In the north he adds. Mon. Kcmme
has been attacked desperately by q
great force Of German troops especially
trained for mountain warfare. The at
teinpt is another move in the Germans
obvious scheme 10 get control Of a
chain Of hills running east to west in
this sector and Including such elevations
"a Wytschaete, KENNEL. SchrrpenberG,
, Mont Rouge. Nidaisne and Mont pes-
cats. THIS pretentious programme has
~ its object the forcing o. the Allies 70
pull back the!r lines 10 the north stiil
fur,her,
KENNEL Great Reached.
The northern attack this morning
wa. along front extending from
Wytschaetc nearly TO Balilleul and IL
was carried out by az least four and per-
haps ak GeimaI divisions, The in
fautry employed We're largely picked
hill troops including the Alpine Corps.
the llTth Division and tho ilth Bava-
rians. with JaeRers in reserve.
The brunt % the assault came against
the French who were defending KENNEL,
which was the cremys goal A; clock
this morning the German artillery
opened n heavy borharlment on Ken,-
mel and the surrounding country with
gas shells. and for more than an hour
maintained a de!uge Of these poison
bearing missiles. between 3 and I
o'clock the German hllmen rushed for
ward and attacked the positions protect
ing kemmel Hill. Al the same time
they began pushing further to the south
In order to furnish n protecting hank
for the main operation.
Hard fighting developed immedia tely
The Germans pushed oil up the slopes
and IL Is reported that az one time some
OF the detachmen,s even made their waS'
to the crest Of the hill, but this after
noon 1t was announced tina. Il was still
In possession OF the Allies.
! HanRard Lost by French.
At Hangard. few miles below Vii.
ers-BretonneuN. on the River Luce
where heavy hghtlng was reported yes.
terday in which the French, who hold
this sector held their own the battle
continued all through the night, The
French lost Hangard recaptured Il, then
lost 1t again. They are still holding the
ground Immediately around It. but the
Germans have possession OF the village
which Is one OF the most hotly con.