The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-04-19
Berlin Reports That Towns of
PoeIcapeIIe and Langemark
Are In Foes Hands.
RESULT OF RETIREMENT
Wall On Line Further South
and Ground Is Held Despite
Great Odds.

Ottawa, April 19.-The French
are heavily In action on the north
ern battle area, says a Reuter-
dispatch from London today.
London, April 19.-FieId Mar
shal Haig reports his line on the
Lys battlefront standing intact as
1t existed following the British
retirement east Of Ypres, no
ground having been lost in the
battling of Wednesday despite
the heavy German attacks through
the entire period.
Checked for the time at least,
In front Of the strong British
positions dominated by KENNEL
Hill on the northern portion of
this front, the Germans are turn
ing their attention to the south
westerly sector of the battlefield.
A heavy bombardment on the
British positions here, between
LOGON and Robecq was reported
In progress.
London, April 19.-Reports which
are more encouraging to the Allies
come out Of the chaos of the tremen-
dous battle along the Lys river south
and southwest of Ypres, the thunder
OF which may be heard forty or fifty
miles away. The British not only
have held the ground which they were
defending, but have struck back so
powerfully that Meteren and part of
or no of
for time. Only after heavy attacks
did the British again retire from the
villages.
PoelcapelIes Langemarck Fall. :.
The most Disturbing news has been
report from Berlin that Poelcapelle
and Langemarck, north of Ypres, have
been taken by the Germans and the
admission from London that the Brit
ish have retired from certain of their
lines In the Ypres salient.
The retirement here was expected,
for the advance of the Germans at
Neuve Eglise and Bailleul left the po-
sitions in front Of Ypres open to a
flank attack. 1t is officially stated
that the retirement was orderly and
| 1t Is probable that ii will have more
of a sentimental than a strategic ef-
| feet.
Just how far the British lines have
| been withdrawn Is not known. II may
be, however, that the German claim
of taking Poelcapelle and Langemarck
was the result of the British retire
ment.
| Deepens In Intensity.
The battle, now in its ninth day,
has deepened in intensity al many
points along The cur gei font from
Ncssines ridge to Metar4n.
There have been reports that the
Germans have occupied the village of
st. Elois which lies less than three
miles south of Ypres, but these have
not been confirmed 1t also was said
that they have taken positions on the
south slope of Mount KENNEL, which
Is about two and half miles north
| Of Wulverghem. This also, has not
been confirmed. On all the rest of
the front from Messines ridge south
westward the Germans have flung
themselves against the granite wall of
the British defense. Official and
semi-official dispatches have told of
the frightful losses inflicted on the
attacking masses of troops by the
British rifle and machine gun fire.
Heavy Action East Of Robecq.
On the southern side of the salient
there have been engagements of some
magnitude, especially east of Robecq,
five miles northwest of Bethune,
where the Germans were caught by
the British artillery fire and scat.
tered.
The line in front of Arras has again
been the scene of fighting but here
the. British took the offensive and
drove the Germans out of British
trenches which had been carried by
the enemy.
In the Picardy sector there has beer
lively artillery engagements between
the Somme and Disc rivers, but only
patrol encounters are reported Off
cially.
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