The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-05-10
Defense on Flanders Front
Proves too Much for the
German Advance.
TWO DIVISIONS
WERE EMPLOYED
Allies Drove Forth i'm Counter
Attacks and Enemy Flees
in Much Confusion.
ASSOCIATED Press Summary. J

Allied defense on the Flanders front
southwest Of Ipres was again tested
by the Germans and found adequate
Two divisions of Teuton troops were
employed on a relatively short front
and sent into fight under cover of a
terrific artillery fire. The front chosen
for this attack extended from Laclytte
village to NoormeZeZele, but the center
Stems to have been at Vierstraat. The
flanks of the German attacking line
We're stopped short by the fire from
French and British artillery In the
center, however, Germans made quite a
serious dent in the allied line.
Wednesday night. however, the Al
lies drove forward in a counter attack
and latest reports from Field Marshal
lIaig says the line was re-established.
Germans are reported to have lost very
heavily during the fighting
The British have improved their po-
sltion along the Somme front by local
attacks.
The Lloyd-George ministry has won
vindication in British parliament at a
time when defeat would have meant a
government crisis. A motion by For
mer Premier Asquith, asking for the
appointment of a special committee to
investigate sensational charges made by
Major General Frederick B. Maurice,
published earlier in the week, was de-
frated decisively. While Mr.. Asquith
disavoNved any intent to put the pres
ent government to a t~ucial test It was
felt that with an adverse vote the
Lloyd-George cabinet would have re-
signed. The Maurice incident involv-
ing charges of Misrepresentation by the
premier in reports to house of COM
mons, has stirred all England, and that
section OF the press hostile to Lloyd
George didn't hesitate to say that II
the present government fell, there
would be no alternative for the cabi-
net was ready to step into office.
Heavy fighting. although on a COM
paratively narrow front. is continuing
in Flanders, where the Germans began
yesterday another attempt to drive a
wedge into the entente lines and out
flank the hill pos tions southwest OF
Ipres. This attempt failed and only
temporary success was secured by the
enemy in gaining a foothold in the
allied front line at points between
Noormezeele and La Clytte.
Last night the French and British
drove back sharply at the Germans and
ousted them from the small bits of ter
TAboTy Jley nau won. Heavy CaSual-I
ties were inflicted on the two German
divisions which were engaged in this
operation.
notwithstanding their heavy losses,
the Germans seem reluctant to aban-I
don the effort and this morning found
them renewing the attack to the north
OF KENNEL In the Vierstraet region. Al
heavy machine gun fire forced the
British line back at one point, but the
recession was a slight one and the
ground remained disputed territory.
The fighting was continuing here when
the days report from British head
quarters was dispatched
The British are continuing to improve
their position In the Somme region on
the high ground between the Somme
and the Ancre. Further progress was
made there during the night. ThereI
was local fighting in the Bucquoy re-
gion between Albert and Arras andl
south of the Somme the heavy artillery
fire that has been reported for some
days past continued on the French
front on both sides OF the Avre river. /