The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-04-19
RED BATTLE
STILL RACES
Troops, Supported by French Re-
serves, Again and Again Hurl Back
Hun Attack---Foe Fights Desperately
But Fails to Make Material Gains in
Great Conflict With Issue Undecided

London, April 1s-At dawn the Flanders army could for
the first time in days look back upon the preceding twenty
four hours with some measure of relief. The enemy's continu-
Gus ~hammering had brought him no further gains; he had been
unable to reap the fruits of his successes at Wytschaete and
Baineul; the British line was intact and virtually unchanged
since the new positions had been taken up around Ypres. More
over, the enemy had suffered new terrible losses in his vain
assaults. Altogether the situation looked more favorable than
1t has since the northern battle began. The presence of the
French reserves on the British right wing had made itself felt
That was at dawn.
But at dusk a new terrific triple battle swirled and swayed
across the length and breadth of the Flemish fields where the
Teuton has set out to risk all to crush Briton. Again the snua-
ton is obscure late this evening. but again the all overshadow-
ing message comes from the front: Our lines are intact.
The German high commands chief attention has now been
turned to Bethune, a vital station on the Franco British com
munication line that connects Calais with Paris. 1t i lies twenty
miles in the rear Ito the %northwest) of Arras and the German
smashing attacks in It's direction are made with an ever watch
ful eye on the British Arras army to outhank, which is one of
Hindenburg's main objects. ~
The new pounding infantry drive against the British right
had been looked for ever since Wytschaete ridge fell into the
enemy hands, and 1t was ushered In by an earth-shaking
bomhardment with gas and high explosives lasting more than
twelve hours and raking villages far behind the British lines.
This shelling was concentrated on two fronts: sd
/. From Givenchy on the LaBasse canal to the Immediate
east of Robecq, the farthest point of the German advance from
Armentieres. This front is about ten miles.
., Between LOGON (three miles north Of Bethune) 10 Ro-
becq, a front of some five miles. n
These two fronts cover the British right, which held like
granite when the Germans in their initial westward sweep from
Armentieres thought they would have easy sailing, separating
the British Arras army from the forces at Ypres and north
ward to the sea.
Meanwhile a hammer and tong struggle of the 6ercest sort
has been going on southeast of Merris, the upper tip of the
lTerTnan Arnent1eres wedge, and before the formidable Kern
mel height, the next objective of the Germans, now that WITS
chaee ridge is in their hands. On both these fronts the Ten
tons suffered bloody reverses in yesterdays fighting. South.
east OF KENNEL hill they dashed forward in three dense waves.
Their weight succeeded in pressing the British back slightly.
But before afternoon the British, in a gallant counter charge,
had restored the position completely. Similarly the enemy was
thrown back with heavy losses near Merris where he tried
three times to drive the British n~orthward.
So that this morning the war Office was able to announce:
"Our line yesterday evening was reported intact on the
whole front"
The bitter struggle on the Merris- Meteren line is for poe-
rn~.or &c ayobror uL.nh rs<A Asro =. l. L DIAL ~
north what Amlens is to the allies In the south. 1t is on the
lines protecting Hazebrouck that the newly arrived French
reserves are stiffening the resistance to the German assaults.
From their new line to the northeast of Ypres the Germans
%aretrying to bring pressure to bear on the great Flanders pivot
which has been virtually placed in a precarious pocket by the
into Ypres from the village of Wytschaete, on the highest part
of the "White Sheet ridge, which rises some 26O feet and
completely commands the whole town of Ypres as well as the
entire region around it. VI
This harassing bombardment of Ypres is nothing new to
the British. 1t was thus for fully two years while the Germans
on June Z of last year literally blew the. Germans off the great
!. bastion. But the situation is aggravated now by the fact that.
the Germans stand so far to the southwest of Ypres, at Merr1s,
seriously menacing the lines of British retirement, if retire
= ment should become necessary. @
At Meteren the Germans stand nearly fifteen miles in the
q rear Ito the %southwest) Of Ypres, and not the least Of their
aims in the frantic northward push-thus far effectuallys
: checked-is that of cutting all westward avenues of retreat Tor
the British Ypres army.
Speeding Troops to France. neve possible last September 4 -
washington. April ls-Thai Amsfr 1T II was explained Inst lAst Apnd
: months q a. she is dong now is not when III United State. dechts4s
n ihs assaa alone 10 Am aeeordins ses o a. q dis registered 100000 ma a -
\ who discussed the situation here To- would soon ss & ths nsaas nsax -
i. a% s%.s ] \ p " |. s ss =. : s. .- sssss;. W. AZ. w. % ss;ssss "a