The Washington herald., 1918-04-22
Hurricane Of Shells Tears
Vital Points on Front
of l45 Miles.
BRITISH GUNS NOW
FOE RAIDERS DOWN
Murderous Barrage Catches
Dense Masses Attacking
North Of Ypres.

London, April 7I.-Dawn ush-
cred in a mighty hurricane Of
shell FIRE in various vital sectors
of the wedge-torn I45-mile battle
line between the region northeast
of Ypres and the area below the
Oise. Hindenburg's campaign is
exactly a month old today, and
there was every indication late
this evening that the luU that fol-
lowed the exhaustion Of his le-
gions both in Flanders and Pi-
cardy is about TO be broken by
third desperate effort to break
through.
Unofficial front dispatches hint
ed that the great battle has flared
up again. As the situation stood
thus morning, both sides were
alert for the rcopening of the IT,
tanie struggle-the British and
French on a shortened and re-
enforced line, the Germans viz
tually cooped in the narrow cor
ridors of their two great wedges,
but also re-enforced BY fresh d.
visions and backed up by a pow
erful array of heavy guns.
AddItIoasI Local Successes.
Additional local success by the Brit
ish in Flanders and by the French IN
Picardy were reported in the onicisl
day bulletins. The most notable sue
cess scored in the north was the de-
feating by British artillery Of a Ger
man attempt to break into HaiEs
lines northeast Of Ypres. where
Crown Prince Rupprechrs troops.
cautiously moving forward in The
wake of the British retirement from
Passchendaele, are intensely desirous
OF swoOping down upon Yprcs f-om
the north.
The German infantry had scarcely
left its trenches when a murderous
oarraGe caught the densely packed
masses, and the would-be assailants
quickly abandoned the effort rh,
enemy's command realizing that a
formidable concentration Of guns was
needed to pave the path for an, such
attempts.
British Take Prisoners.
A Ions the southern SIDE Of the
German spear-hsad Threatening
Hazebrouck the British infantry
improved thCIr position stiIl fur
ther, taking prisoners and machine
guns. and inflicting considerable
casualties on the enemy troops
near Robecq.
Meanwhile the hTupps taundercd
away in threateninE tones alonE
La Bassee Canal, TO cross which
RuppreCht's troops nave made des-
perate but futile efforts throughout
the last week
Heavy gun duels have also been
raging without pause on the Ayrs
River, southeast Of Amteus. and
along the southern leg OF the Ger
man PiCardy wedge between Mont
didier and NoyOn.
French Beat on Raid.
North OF Rheims a German raid was
beaten Of by the French.
On the Franco-American sector
northwest Of Toul. where l.9nO picked
German shock troops tried unsuccess-
fully yesterday 10 rip q hole. herCe
hand TO hand fighting continued
throughout the night. Paris reported
in the day CommuniQue, and the
French and Americans emerged COM
plete masters OF the situation. BY
dawn nearly all Of the Lorraine over
run by the foe in his initial bull rush
had been regained. The French Of
fetal statement, after recounting the
part taken by the French. said:
American troops fighting IN this
region also repulsed a determined
German attack in the same sector"
The German assault was the largest
the Americans have yet had TO meet.
and the result is hailed in France
and Britain as a brilliant augury for
the part the "Sammies' will take in
the future course Of the Western fight
ing.