Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-04-17

miles southwest Of 1ailleuI.
The British counter attack last
night indicated the strength Of tho
British line in this vital sector. Il
resulted in the driving Of the Ger.
mans from the town of Metern,
mile and a. half west Of Bailleul,
which they had entered.
The Germans are still hammer
ing the British line north Of
Bailleul, while to the northeast
they reported to be close to Mount
kemmeI, the towering height which
dominates the>situation in this Sec
tor. The British now seem able to
deal with them along the Bailleul-
Wytschacte line, however, and re-.
pulses Of repeated Attacks with ter
rifle losses to the enemy in the
6ailIeul sector are reported.
The present attack in Flanders
does not seem TO have diverted
British reserves from the Somme
battle field, as the Germans appar-
emily expected.
Tho British last night counter
attacked opposite soyeiIes and
drove out parties Of Germans who
had entered the British trenches
yesterday, completely restoring the
line.
The Somme battle appears likely
to break eut furiousiy again in the
near future, judging from reports
frew both the French and British
Wsrs offices Of the marked increase
I In the artillery fire south Of tho
Sorpms.
Tho situation, Il is admitted in
London, is more serious than at
any time since the German drive
in ine north oesan. Some fIe,ws-
papers already advise the evaeua-
tion Of the. hard-won sector Of
Ypres and tho PassehendaeIe
ridge, which is a continuation Of
the Messines ridge.
Premier Lloyd George told the
house OF commons that he was
hopeful Of the situation, adding
that General PIummer, command
er in the Messines area, and Gem
eraI Foch, the allied commander
SH,SutSty "ro 0oIu C0HHoSue'
Nothing vital, the premier said,
had been lost. Tho enemy, he
added, had not wiped out the Brit
ish army, which was his aim. :,
In capturing Wytschaete and the
height Of StanbroekmoIen to the
southwest, the Germans drove the
British from the high ground at
the southern tip Of the Messines
toward the Passchendaele ridge,
which extends for fourteen miles
from Wulvershem to Passehen-
daeIs in northeasterIy direction.
From Wulversham to Wytsehaete
Is two and one half miles. y
Ypres lies four miles north Of
Wytschaete and between them are
the heights Of Klein ZiIlsbeke and
observatory ridge, which are equal
in height to Wytschaete.
On other parts Of the front from
Wytschaete to Givenehy the Brit
ish have halted German efforts,
especially about Mervilll
To the south around sjsxy$s and
across the Somme the German ar
tilIery fire has increased. The
enemy bombardment is violent in
the Montdidier sector.
On tho American sector around
st. Mihiel the weather has been
unfavorabIe for three days, but
the Germans have not repeated
their attacks Of last week.. Near
Apremont forest, east Of St. Mihiel,
American patrols have crossed mo
mans land" and reached tho Ger.
man barbed wire without moIesta-
ton. !,
East Of the American sector at
Bois le Pretre the French have re-
pulsed German efforts.
In Macedonia, east Of Saloniki,
the Bulgarians have been driven
from about ten villages along a
front Of fifteen miles from the left
bank of the Struma, northwest
from Lake Tabinoa. Creek and
British troops participated in the
operation. Prisoners wore taken
and severe losses inflicted on the
enemy.
London, April 1.-THE British posi-
ions before Ypres have been with
rawn to a new line. South of ARA
he Germans were driven out of Britis
renchcs into which they had force
heir way.
Early this morning the enemy artil
rs
,ry became more active south Of tn
omme.l
The British have recaptured Meter
n the northern battle front. by
ounter attack. it is officially stated.
The British made a successful coun