Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-04-23
HUNS TAKE THREE
TOWNS AND MOST
Of MESS|NES RIDGE
Germans Use Three Fresh Dr.
visions Against Haig.
GAIN AFTER FIERCE FIGHT
British Fall Back From Wytschaete,
SpanbroekmoIen and Balleul-
English Still Fighting Desper-
ateIy on Slopes of Ridge.

London, April 17.-Field Marshal
Haig, in his official report, announces
the occupation by the Germans of both
Wytschaete and Spanbroekmolen.
The war office announced that the
Germans have captured Bailleul on the
northern battle front, following fierce
battle in which the enemy made use
of three divisions of picked men who
had not previously engaged in the bat
tie.
The British have fallen back TO new
positions north of BailIeul and Wul-
verghGu.
Fresh German attacks were then re-
ported developing in the neighborhood
of Wytachaete.
A German attack southwest of
VieuX Berquin was repuSSed.
Part of Messines Ridge Lost.
Ottawa, April 17.-German troops
have carried Wytschaete and the great
er pagt Of Messines ridge, according to
dispatcn from the Reuter- correspond
ent at British headquarters in France,
received here.
The enemy also has established him.
self in Spanbrokmolen. The British
are still clinging to the slopes of Mes
sines ridge, battling desperately to re-
pei the attacks made upon them by
overwhelming German forces.
Huns Win by Surprise Attack.
Berlin, April 1.-THE official COM
municatiOn from general headquarters
says German attacks on the Lys bat
tlefield met with complete success.
The great mine craterS of the
Wytschaete battle of 1917 were taken
by q surprise attack.
After brief bombardment the Ger
mans stOrmed Wulverghem in a sur
prise attack also the British positions
on both sides of the village
British cOunter-attacks failed com
pletely, says the report
German troops scaled the heights be-
tween Neuve Chapelle and Bailleul and
captured them in vigorous hand-to-
hand fight
Germans Use Up Fresh Troops.
The statement reads:
"ln the evening. preceded by an
Intense bOmbardment, the enemy
launched very heavy attacks against
our positions between Bailleul and
Neuve EgliSe The assault was deliv-
cred by three picked German divisions
which had been previously engaged
in the battle and it succeeded after
fierce and bitter struggle in carrying
the high ground southeast and east of
Bailleul known as Mount de Lille and
Revetsberg. Our troops on this point
have fallen back to new positions to
the north of Bailleul and Wulver-
CHEM. Bailleul has fallen into the en-
emy's hands.
Repulse Hun Attacks.
Severe fighting has been taking
place on the front from Meteren to
WytSchaete. AT dawn the enemy re-
newed his attacks in strength in the
neighbOrhood of Wytschaete and
Spanbrockmolen.
Supported by heavy bombardment,
his troops approached our positions
under cover of the mist, and after a
prolonged struggle gained possession
of both localities"
"In the morning fresh German at
tacks developed in the neighborhood
of Wyschaeter.
early in the morning the enemy
also attacked southwest of Vieux
Berquin under heavy artillery and
trench mortar fire, but was re-
pulsed.
"a number of prisoners were
taken by us during the night in a sue
cessful minor enterprise southeast of
RObecq
"On the remainder of the British
trent there was nothing of special in
terest to report"
French Take Prisoners.
Paris, April 17.-Heavy artillery
fighting occurred at night on the main
battle front in the neighborhood of
Montdidier. the war office announces.
The French captured machine gun
and prisoners near the Disc canal.