The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-04-06
HEROES DEFEND
REDOUBT TO END
Manchesters. Surrounded by
Foe. Fight OH Until
Overwhelmed.
PHONE TELLS TRAGEDY
Last Message Says Enemy Has
Won Way In, but Men Dis
dain Surrender.
PHONE TELLS TRAGEDY

~
Special Cable DespafcA 10 TnI srS ,.-m tie
London Times
Cosvri0As. 1915: aN riohS reserrsd.
BRITrsH HEADQUARTERS IN FRANCE.
April 4 tdelayed).-A heavy rain fell
during large part OF last night. The
sky to-day WAS overcast and the aiy
thick. Partly because OF the depressing
conditions the last twenty.four hours
were even more quiet than the preceding
day
The enemy artillery was again most
active in the northern sector OF tho battle
front, as high as the Armentieres region.
but no infantry attack took place. the
Germans genetally continuing TO dig in
at their presedt positions
Such minor Acti~ities as have taken
place have been again in our favor. We
recovered small portion Of the enemy's
ground both in the Ayette region and in
the region south Of tho Scarpe. On the
wnoie. however. things are stagnant
Foe Must Try Again.
II would be Of course absurd to SUD.
pose that the German effort has ended.
Great numbers Of German troops are
still available. The whole offensive
has no sense or Significance excepting
as an attempt to win a crushing victory
that would end The war. Presumably
the enemy must attempt to 20 on.
What. howevar. Ia certain is tina. the
fret stage OF tho attack has not broush
anything like the fruits he expected
believe his intention was to smash
and breach our lines so that through the
gaps his troor@ could widen out and
spread aver all France.
Our line refused to be preached. In
stead of constantly widening theatre
OF operations In front of him he found
his offensive narrowing down continually
Ia n smaller front until il exhausted
itself against resista nee which never
slackened.
To continue to hammer this narrow
front. SO Increasing the salient and en-
posing his TANKS moro and more. would
be quite a different thing from the pro
gramme which pparently no had
planned. Whatever troops he has 70
spare he may we'll hesitate before
driving forward a wedge which never
penetrates. but Is as though II were
thrust into a rubber ball that always
finds reaction from it.
Inc 10 repeat inc great DIOw
seems. therefore. a confession and recog-
milton OF tho failure OF his plans. In my
opinion. the present delay Is either be-
cause he is considering whether to press
on and still try for q decision on the
original lines. In spite of less favorable
situation, or because already he has re-
modelled his strategy and Is preparing
to attack elsewhere.
In any case we can afford to regard
the situation with eQuanimity
Resum.ng the narrative OF individual
efforts Of the units In the recent fighting.
one continues 20 hear amazing tales
from all parts Of the field. have told
OF the experiences Of the Ulster troops
in the ST. Quentin area. have mentioned
the thrilling episode Of the troops fur
ther north. who. like the I'lete.nen.
were approached In thick mist until
the outposts in the advance line were
all surrounded.
Manchesters Win Fame.
Among these posts was position
known as the Manchester Redoubt be-
cause II was taken year ago by the
| Manchester men, IT was held again In
! this battle by the Manchesters. II was
( an earthwork rcdoubt. connected with
the rear by telephone by which com
munication went on while the battle
was In progress.
So thick was the mist that though
the Manchesters sent out strong
patrol II failed to get In touch with or
discover tho enemy. When II returned
the Germans already were around the
redoubt Some Of the men Of the patrol
| did not rejoin the redoubt before they
we're discovered Then followed a dc.
fence worthy Of a place In history rank
! ing with Rorkes Drift or any other
heroic feat OF British arms.
From 10: 40 o'clock. when the enemy
was frat found surrounding the POSI-
tions, until 3:35 communication went on