The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-04-12
ATTEMPT TO
GAIN GROUND ABOUT
.&r
G|VENCHY REPULSED
WEDGE DRIVEN DEEPER. BY FOE INTO.
ENGLISH LINE DURING NIGHT BUT .
HUN REPORTED HELD TODAY
GAIN NO DEFINITE RESULT.

With the British hanging grimly on great bulk of
Messnes ridge their buwark in Flanders the Germans to the
south pushing their wedge deeper into the British lines
northeast and north of Bethune of the British advanced
bases
point of this wedge driven last night father along
the Lys canal to Mervle, two miles west of srem, which
the British held yesterday The salient extended also
slightly to the north its tip to the vicinity of Ne Berqun
two miles northwest Esares another where the Brit
ish had been making stand
The today continuing what appeared to be
their heaviest in this region and had made
gress when the official report issued in London
STANDING FIRM AT LOIsNE
The souherly salient southeast to-
ward Gvenchy is strongly held by the British They
standing firm today Loisne three miles northeast of Bethune
and along the line northwest to the Mervle region Farther
southeast they repeed German attempt advance northwest
of Gvenchy the high ground about which protects the British
right flank before Behune.
The British task here apparently is prevent the sides of
this salient from being materially wdened the tip cannot be
pushed in much farther without grave danger to the attacking
forces from flank attack unless they succeed broadening their
advanced front
! MAINTAIN HIGH GROUND
Northwest Armentieres yesterday by the
British the line Strengthened out by their withdrawal from
Ploegesert whence they fell back fighting to the vicinity of
Neuve Egise close the ouhery end of Messnes ridge.
which protects their positions.
The British lines apparently firmly maintained along
the high ground in the Messnes and Wychaee regions and
the north toward Ypres material change in the stua
ton reported here The battle however, developing along
the whole front from La Basee canal north to Hoebeke the
Germans hammerng hard in their desperate attempt to
something substantial out OF this ambitious effort OF
theirs So far its only definite result has been the png up
of casualties on both sides, notably their
| ADVANCE is SLOWING DOWN
Having pushed back the British positions front of 25
miles north and south Of Armeneres average depth of
little than two miles, the Germans struggling desper
atey to increase their gain The brilliant defense of Field Mar
sha Hag however, beginning to tell and the advance
has slowed down greatly although the Germans have not dim
nished intensity especially the north and in the center
Messine ridge and Wyschaete the vital points the
battle field and the Germans in two days have not been able
to reach the crest ofthe hills Repusd along the ridge from
the southern tip to Wytschaee the enemy heavy
forces against Hoebeke where the ridge declines the
HpresMenn railroad and the Ypes Confines through
At HoIlebek and Wysehaete however, the British
sion has repulsed the enemy with heavy loss On the southern
approach the ridge about Poesgeser Poegester
the Germans have made small gains
STRAIGHTEN THEIR LINE
By abandoning Armenteres the British have Strengthened
their line Evidently the Germans have not yet occupied the
town. 1e latest official statement from Berlin reports fight
ing in the suburbs The British withdrew Wednesday after
noon their position having become untenab West of Ar
menteres the Germans have pushed back the British several
hundred yards north of Steenwerck.
On the center of the battle front between Estairs Lestram
and Losne there has been bitter fighting Along the river
Lave between Lesram and Losn the Germans made
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