Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-04-25
Field Marshal Haig Reports
That His Valiant Troops
Have Been Forced to EVaCu-
ate ViIIerS- -BretonneuX,
CHANNEL OF OSTEND
PRACTICALLY CLOSED
War Will Probably Not Now Be
Declared Upon Bulgaria and
Turkey to Protect the Lives
of Americans There,
i.v MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED '"eel

lsY MORNING. JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED sIRel
After three weeks preparation in
the Somme, during which time they
launched an offensive in Flanders, the
Germans have resumed their ham
mering at the front door of Amiens
For days there has been heavy artil-
lery firing along the northern sectors
of the Somme salient, and finally the
German infantry began their attempts
to advance on the line passing VII
lers- -BretonneuX, Hangard, Haiiles
and Castcl.
The first attacks We're repulsed but
subsequent attacks centered about
Nillors- Bretonneux, have caused
British withdrawal from this village,
according to a report from Field Mar
shal Haig This marks a German
gain of about a mile.
German Report Is Silent.
Villers- Bretonneux is about eleven
miles directly east of Amiens and is
on the northern end of the latest
fighting front. It is situated between
the Somme and Luce rivers and, while
it is flanked on the south by LOVELY
II
hills to the west and northwest
The fighting on the rest of the front
where the Germans have resumed
their drive toward the allied base OF
supplies in northern France has not
So far as known, resulted in any not
able retirements on the part of the
allies.
The German official report issued
On Wednesday was silent as to events
in this sector of the front.
An attack on this particular part
of the line in the Somme region had
been expected and it is probable that
preparations to meet it had peeh
made. The British lines held flrm III
this region during the last days OF the
initial drive, while the Germans were
able to forge ahead turther south
until they reached the village of Cas-
fol about three miles from the rail-
rood running to Paris and Amiens.
Ground Is Won Back.
Recently a French counter-otfen-
sivo at Castel won back considerable
rround and it was evident that unless
the limo further north could be ad-
yanced materially the Germans hau
little chance to make important gains .
in their operations to the south ol
Amiens. .,o at
This new drive has been. made at
the same time that another pioH
has been struck at the Brush anu
French lines northwest OF 1preS'
Savage fighting is reported at VaIlouS
points along the line from baiiteu.
to Merville, and Berlin claims Una,
heights to the northeast of Balleul
have been stormed Coincident with
these attacks, there have been as
saults on the British forces near
Bethune, along the Lave river, put
these have been repulsed.
Channel Partially Blocked
Some of the uncertainty as to the
success of the British exploit in at
TEMPTING to seal up the harbors OF
Zeebrugge and Ostend has been
cleared up by observations carried
out bv aviators. Grave damage was
done to the mole at Zeebrugge, while
the hulks of sunken steamers are
said at least partially to block the
channel leading out to sea from the
port of Ostend.
on the front in France, with the
exception Of the Somme salient,
there has been little fighting of an
unusual nature. t.
The situation between Germany
and Holland still is obscure. 1t has
heen reported that virtual ultima
tum was delivered to the Netherlands
government by Berlin, but this is
not as yet known to be fact. Dis
patches from The Hague insist that
Holland will not depart from her
attitude of neutrality.
Would Save Americans.
Congress which has been consid-
ering a declaration If a state of war
with Bulgaria and Turkey, probably
will not take any action in the face
of opposition on the part of Presi-
dent Wilson.
1t is said that the safety of Ameri-
cans in both countries has caused
the president to indicate that hostil-
tiles should not he declared at the
present time.
Rev. Emerson Is Dead.