The Sentinel=record., 1918-04-27
The Loss of Kennel Hill Jeopardizes the Whole of the Ypres Position From the LoWlands to the West of Armen- tieres--Germans Found Weak Spot Where Bretish and French Armies Joined

New York, April Kemmel hill, a height which has been looked upon as the key to the southern side of the Ypres salient, and one of the most important strategetic positions on the northern battle front in France, has been taken by the Germans After defense which will become one of the heroic chapters of the war, the hill was surrounded and the French forces entrenched on its slopes were overcome. The loss of the hill. which is admitted in an official statement by General Delma Radcliffe. chief dlrec- tor of military operations at the Brit
 ish war office, brings to the allies a realization that the whole Ypres po-
 sition is in peril from the German drive northward from the lowlands Iy- 1 ing to the west of Armentieres.
 The Teutons launched terrific at tacks along tho whole Wytschaete- 1 lBailleul- Metcren line Wednesday, ap- Iparently for the purpose of finding a point which might yield They evi- dently found that spot in the section of the front held jointly by the Brit
 ish and French troops and against it
 they hurled fresh divisions which fought their way forward all day Thursday until at nightfall they had surrounded Kemmel hill and isolated the French troops holding the position.
 All night long the fight went on land it was not until Friday that the Germans succeeded in storming up the slopes of the height The loss of Kennel hill is serious for 1t over looks much of the lowlands lying back of the allied lines in the Ypres salient The hill is AGA feet in height rising from lowlands on the south and east It Is six miles southwest of Ypres and three miles west of Wytschaete.
 These German successes makes q deep notch in the allied line to the southwest of Ypres and completely outflanks the British on the northern slopes of Messines ridge 10 which they were forced by the German assaults of two weeks ago. The line to the southwest toward Bailleul apparently is in no particular danger at present. although the village of Dranoutre has 2 cen lost to the enemy. So important is the loss of Kennel hill that the allies must launch a counter attack to recapture it and the French have begun savage attack on the height. If the Germans continue to hold it and either consolidate heir line, or push on, the allies will be at a great dis in future engagements. The latest reports from the scene of the battle are that the Germans are attacking on a line from Laclyte to the Ypres -Comines canal. Laclyte is about a mile and a half north of Rem mel and is six miles and a half west of the Ypres Confines canal which runs almost due south from Ypres.
 The evident purpose of this attack is to roll up the allied positions south of Ypres and force retirement from that war tortured town. The position of the Germans is such that only the sternest defense will avail to check their threatening advance.
 At other points along the battle line the Germans have made important gains. At ViIlers- -Bretonneux, the British have held their lines and com- pleted the work of clearing out tht last German positions on the ground held before the German attack on Wednesday. but Hangard is apparently still in German hands and the Teu- tons have forged ahead just to the north of this village and are reported to have launched attacks on the town of Cachy without, however, havng oc- cupied the place.
 Further south. immediately north of Castel the Germans have penetrated the village of 0Hailles and are. in pos session of Hill S2 south of the village. The French have counter attacked on this front and regalned ground.
 At no other points has the enemy