Evening star., 1918-04-15
Huns Get N euve e
Eglise at Cost OF
Terrible Losses.
FOE HURLED BACK
IN SEVEN ATTACKS
Americans In Brilliant Battle
Win Admiration of the
French.
By the Associated Press.

French.
By the Associated Press.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE, April 15.-The battle about
Neuve Eglise, near the Belgian border,
which has been retaken by the Germans,
continued to rage this morning with
the same intensity that has marked it
for DAYS, and the British are pounding
the Germans hard.
Another assault on Bailleul, four miles
west Of Neuve Egise, is expected
momentarily.
British Improve Positions.
The latest reports this forenoon
showed that the British line was being
strongly held as a whole in this north
ern zone. and in some instances had
been considerably improved by counter
strokes.
The British last evening followed up
their success Of Saturday, when they
pushed the Germans back from RobecQ.
on the Clarence river. Local counter
attacks delivered on the German posi-
tions 5000 yards to the east of this
town were completely successful and
the enemy again was forced to fall
back somewhat
s.I. to- = n Ia
noon also pushed out several posts
north Of the canal between the Lave
and Clarence rivers.
These operations indicate that the de-
fsnss Of tho entente allied troops has
stifYened.
Battle q Hard One.
The battle which has been raging
about Neuve Eglise has been one OF
the most sanguinary since the German
offensive began. On Friday night the
to-hand fighting in gaining possession
of the town. They held it through the
night but on Saturday morning the
British drove forward and pushed out
the enemy.
The Germans continued to fling great
numbers Of troops against the de-
fenses. Yesterday the British took the
initiative and cleared the Germans
east Of the town. The enemy kept on
hammering and after a night of severe
flxhting at close quarters forced the
British to abandon the village.
Reports Loss Of Neuve Eglise.
LONDON. April 15.-Seven attacks by
the Germans in the Merville sector of the
northern battle front have been repulsed
by the British, who inflicted heavy losses
on the enemy, it is announced officially.
The British have lost Neuve Eglise.
Southwest Of Bailleul the Germans tenn
porarily penetrated the British positions,
but were driven out by a counter attack
Text Of British Statement.
The statement follows:
Severe fighting continued all day
yesterday around Neuve Eglise. After
beating of numerous attacks our troops
were In the end compelled to withdraw
q second time from thu village.
Strong attacks were made by the en-
emy yesterday afternoon at number
OF other points on the battle front. North
west of Merville fierce fighting took place
as a result of which the attacking ger
man infantry was driven back with great
loss The hostile infantry advancing along
the northern bank Of the Lys was caught
by the force of our artillery and was
unable to develop its attack.
Seven Attacks Repulsed.
I'm the course of the day no less than
seven attacks were delivered by the en-
envy In the Merville sectors, all of
which were repulsed with heavy loss to
his troops. In one case the enemy ad-
vanced to the assault in five waves.
Under the weight of this attack our
line was bent back slightly. but was
completely restored by counter at
tack.
Southwest Of Bailleul parties of the
trating our positions. but were driven
was restored.
Successful minor operations were
carried out by US during the night east
of RobecQ. Several machine guns and
$50 prisoners were captured by US.
Fighting took place also early this
morning south of the Somme in the
neighborhood of Hangard. Our position
in this sector has been improved and a
nunlDef OF prisoners nave been taken.
The hostile artillery was active last
night in the neighborhod of Bucquoiy"
French in Successful Raid.
PARIS. April 15.-on the front above
Montdidier the French made a success
ful local attack last night. taking pris-
onera, the war ONCE announces.
!. The statement follows:
"In the region Of Hangard the French
carried out local operation with COM
plete success and took ten prisoners,
Since April IL we have taken $50 prison.
ers In this sector.
Between Montdidfer and Noyon and
in the Champagne south of Mont Tetu
we carried out several raids and brought
back prisoners. A German effort north
Of the Chemin n-des-Demes, southeast OF
Corbeny. was without success. There
were intermittent bombardments al
several points on the 'front.'
Americans In Brilliant Fight.
WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN
FRANCE. April 14.-American soldiers
ID brilliant work in the stiff lighting
Friday et Brule wood. In the forest OF
EApremont, Lorraine, to which the
&E3ene4.Xar o1ce already has referred
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