South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-14
Associated Press Services:
- CFrrNr% TON

military attache here, said tonight
in reviewing the situation on the
northern part of the long western
line.
While the Germans have scored,
Gen. McLachlan said they have not
done as well as they had hoped and
each hour their advance is delayed
makes victory for them less likely
Ev falling TO break through the Ger
mans find themselves in an awk-
ward salient. and for that reason
tie battle is bound TO continue with
great ferocity.
Stinening British resistance has
checked the German drive south
ward from the Lys toward Bethune
and westward from MerNille towards
Hazebrouck. near the Belgian bor-
der. The enemy pressure is con
tnuing with great weight toward
the north and desperate battling is
in progress along the line running
southwest from Nessines TO the
south of BailleuL
That the whole Ypres salient and
the continued safety Of the channe;
ports are pointed 10 by observers
abroad as at stake in the fighting
now under way. Hazebrouck and
BailleuI. important railway centers.
are vital feeding points for Messines
ridge and the Ypres position in gen
eral
So far as Hazebrouck is concern
cd. the Germans have been held for
the time, at least, on the edge Of
the forest of Nieppe, west of Mer-
vile. and some five miles away
from their objective. The Germans
have been battering away at the
British line here since they captured
Merville on Wednesday night but
have advanced only few hundred
Yards. being stopped short Of this
+ forest which is about a mile and a
/ Lalf beyond Merville.
Enemy Attacks Heavily.
Little additional light was throwa
f ly Saturdays dispatches on the sit
. uation around Bailleul. to which the
/ Germans had worked very close in
/ Fridays lighting 1t was revealed,
however. that the enemy was at
tecking heavily in the vicinity Of
Neuve Eglise and Wulverghem,
which lies in the region to the
/ northwest of Bailleui. between it ana
. Messines. The British are on com
paratively high ground here and
the reports did not indicate that
the Germans were making much
IrOeress.
on the southerIy side Of the
wedge which the Germans have
driven I'm between La Bassee and
Armentieres the British resistance
vas notab bly, stiff Bethune has been
threatened by the push in this di-
rection The enemy twice attacked
LOGON. on this line about three
miles north Of Bethune. but each
time was repUlsed. the second time
more easily than the first The Brit
ish also held firmly AROUND Given
chy. on their right flank. and ad-
yauced their line by capturing an
important German post iu this re-
g.on.
There was an improvement also
i'm the allied position on the Somme
battle front The Germans had
gained d footing in Hangard-0n
Santerrey. southeast OF Amiens. in
an attack on Friday, but a COM
bined drive BY the British and
French during the night ar the point
where their lines Join, on the River
Luce near Hangard, restored the
situation. putting the French again
i'm complete possession Of the Wiz
lage
Americans Rcpel Enemy.
Meanwhile the American forces
are contributing notably 20 the
maintenance Of the line on sectors
OF the French front 20 the south
east. The men in the sector north
west of Toul added 20 their laurel-
last nigh- by repelling in conjunc-
ton with the French another Ger
man attack on the positions in
Brule wood in the forest OF Apre-
mont east OF 81 Mihiel 4 counter
attack was launched and the Ger