The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1918-04-12
Iaided the German lines Cney north of the Ae and west
Of Butte De Mesn bringing back prisoners On the remainder of
the 'front.' the night was cam'
GERMAN DEAD FILL RIVER
In BATTLE NEAR ARMENTIERES
Desperate Fighting All Day Thursday in
Which Enemy Gained Little of
Real Importance.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN

WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE. Thursday. April II (As-
ISOLATED Press). enemy
attacks continued Thursday against
points OF strategical value along the
new battlefront north and south Of
Armen ,rcs, from which the British
have withdrawn, the Germans having
laced It in n pocket by driving a
wedge on either side OF II.
There was especially by.er fighting
along the Lys near Cr,tE du Bac,
whore the Germans crossed by wad-
ins. AS they worked in towards the
river from both fanks the British
held their flro and allowed the enemy
20 assemble. Once the Germans wero
in the river the defenders opened a
terrific firo and there was a huge pile
OF bodies In the waterway before
some of the enemy succeeded In get
ting across.
On the extreme right tho Germans
Thursday pounded away against tho
British defonses at 0ivenchy. which
has changed hands numeroBs times
since the initial enemy onslaught
Tuesday, North OF Armentiores the
Germans showed an equal desire 10
possess Messines Ridge and wyt-
schaete, which are dominating posi-
tionB and which changed hands
several times Wednesday and 'wed-
nesday night. The Germans got
footing In Messines Village.
FArmentieres was evacuated wednes-
day afternoon. but was stlll reeking
Thursday with clouds OF poisonous
gas and was n most inhospitable
place for the enemy. The British
withdrawal became necessary when
the Germans on the north drove for
ward TO the vicinity OF Steenwerck.
bottllng up the city. BY their opera
tions the Germans chad gradually
thrust forward lines on either side OF
the city toward the west unul at
noon wednesday Armentleres lay at
the bottom OF u sack shaped salient
whose sides were 10000 yards long
ana whose mouth near Steenwerck
was only 5000 yards across. g.,
The withdrawal does not meng as
much from a military ssandpoifs rs
might appear from a first glance. but
the Germans undoubtedly will make
much of the capture for the moral
eject at home. Any distress over the
abandonment OF Armentieres Is due
more 10 sentimental than tactical
reasons.
In order 10 appreciate fully tho
trend OF the present fighting the Of
fensive operations must be viewoi as
a whole for they go 20 make up what
undoubtedly Is the crucial conflict OF
the war. The loss OF a city here or
there Or the abandonment OF fve or
ten miles OF territory in any sector
does not mean disaster.
The battle has got beyond such con-
siderations and has settled down 10 n
grim race TO determine whether the
German man-power is enough TO make
good the threat to annihilato the
British army and force It's capitulatlon.
II Is a cold proposition OF which side
can kill the most men In the next few
weeks and al the same time find more
recruits 20 Ill the depleted ranks.
The mists Wednesday continued TO
favor the enemy and to hamper the
defending gunners. 1t was partly
on account OF these fogs that the
Germans progressed as far as they
did above Armentieres.. Tho situa-
tlon here Thursday did not appear 20
be critical. Tho enemy on Wednes-
day did not attack with the huge
forces employed on other sectors
since the opening OF tho offensive, al
though he undoubtedly used many
more men than were holding tho Iino
attacked.
South OF Armentieres the British
Wednesday and Wednesday night
continued 10 hold most of
their front satisfactorily. Tho
enemy crossed the River Lave
and obtained a footing in Lestrem,
but were quickly forced out again.
Wednesday night a considerable Ger
man force crossed the river between
Vielle Chapelle and Lestrem and once
more approached Lestrem. but again
were thrust back.