The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-04-20
BRITISH TAKE
GROUND FROM
FOE IN BIG
COUNTER BLOW
Results in Re-establishment
of British Line as 1t Existed
Before the Huns Struck on
Thursday.
MORE HUNS BROUGHT up
(By Associated Press)

lClu MAI SllS11 11hlk tIOOP6
took the aggressive last night
on the southern side Of the Lys
battle front with quick and de-
cisive results. They compelled
the Germans to give up the
small bits of ground in the Gil
venchy-Fesubert sector which
were all the enemy had to show
for his costly all-day attacks of
Thursday on this front.
The British counter blow re-
suited in the attainment of all
the objectives sought and in the
complete re-establishment of
! the British. line as it existed be-
fore the Germans struck on
Thursday.
The only offensive action on
the German side reported from
the British front was in the Ro-
becq region near the westerly
tip of the Lys salient, southwest
of Merville. The enemy met no
success in this local operation,
| the British driving him back to
his positions.
Take Prisoners and Guns
There is possible significance in
raiding operations carried out by the
British south along the line below the
Scarpe river just to the northeast Of
Arras. Apparently it was feeling
out operation to develop what forces
the Germans have ready for an attack
in this region. 1t resulted In the TAX
ing of prisoners and collection Of ma
chine guns and trench mortars. A
German counter-attack was repulsed.
enemy will again assay drive around
Arras although he failed signally there
in the early stages OF the battle. In
some way the Germans have got to
force back the British line between
Arras and Albert before they can go
further ahead in their push on the
Somme battle front as their right
flank is held fast by the British from
Vimy to Albert and has not been able
to keep pace with their left. south of
the Somme.
Vimy Ridge 10 Anchor Point
The British anchor point on this line
is vimy ridge north of Arras, the turn.
ing Of which from the north has been
assumed to be one Of the German OBJ
jectives in driving in the salient along
the Lys whence they apparently hoped
to work southwark.
Stopped in this attempt by the Brit
ish, In the fighting on Thursday and
yesterday, they must either strike here
again or attack with a similar purpose
elsewhere II Vimy and the line 1t sup
ports is not still to stand in the way
Of their southerly drive.
In the sectors of the southern battle
front held by the French there was a
continuation Of the heavy artillery ac-
ton between Lassfnge and Noyan to-
ward the French right flank. The only
infantry operation was raiding at
tempt by the Germans near Hangard
southeast Of Amiens, IN which the ad-
vantage was with the French who took
prisoners including an officer.
1t IS not improbable that the Ger
mans again will attack, either In Pi-
cardy or in F1anders-Artois, while over
every move they make hangs the men,
ace Of the allied reserve army and a
counter-offensive.
Weather Bad In North.
Unfavorable weather has settled
down upon the nOrtnern Dattle nel0
but up to the present, the Germans
have selected mist and rain and cold
periods as opportune for striking and
the lull in their attacks is due more
probably to their appalling losses,
which in the past ten days have
caused such depletions in organiza-
that offensive tactics must watt the
arrival of new troops. The enemy Is
! moving up new troops and supplies
along the Lys river and these are be.
ing bombarded heavily by the British
Germany probably still has many
reserve divisions and there is little
doubt that her masters will use up
the last division in their attempts to
crush either the British or the French
The British have borne the brunt OF
the present campaign. which will end
it's first month today and their line
is still unbroken. The enemy has not
been able to pierce it and roll up one
side as he apparently intended.
[CoHtinued On Page Five.1