New-York tribune., 1918-04-29

y
ports 1t was an "even break" for
the British were in possession of
Voormezeele, while the enemy seems
to have succeeded early in the day
in getting foothold in Locre again.
An engagement north of the
pres-Comines Canal was in prog
ress throughout most of the night,
with the British holding doggedly
and inf1icting heavy losses on the
attacking troops. The German cas-
ualties in this part of the front have
been very severe.
The German artillery was to-day
smothering the ruins of Ypres in
gas, and there was considerable ar
tlllery firing all along the line.
Locre has changed hands at least
five times since Friday. The Germans
forced their way into the village after
sanguinary battle Friday, but were
thrust out by French counter attack
that night. Yesterday in the forenoon
the enemy again attacked heavily and
recovered the village, only to lose it
ternoon.
This mornings assault was delivered
about a o'clock, and while the Ger
mans apparently had gained an en-
trance to the place their tenure of it
was being hotly contested by the
poilus.
similar fight has been waged for
Voormezeele. The Germans retook the
hamlet last night. but were able to
hold it only a short time, for the
British in brilliant counter attack
stormed their way through the place
and elected the enemy
An attempted enemy attack near
Villers-Bretonneux yesterday was
smashed by artillery fire. The Ger
mans concentrated east of the town
during the forenoon, but the British
gunners put down heavy barrage
among the troops and dispersed them
During the afternoon the Germans
advanced behind barrage, but again
the British artillery scattered then.
before they were able to reach the
British positions.
The German prisoners taken in the
KENNEL sector complain that their
food supplies had been irregular lately
because of the effective work of the
Allied gunners. Some of them have
not sufficient food at times. They also
admit that their losses have been very
heavy.
An. amusing incident occurred yes
terday A German officer and three
men went foraging for pigs, in the
hope that they would be able to have a
meal of roast meat. They found two
porkers, but, not satisfied, the officer
left his men to guard the captives and
went to seek more pigs. He ran into
some Australians, who took him with
his men and the pigs to the British
camp. The German officer had pork
for dinner, but it was as a guest of the
British.
One of the British soldiers in the
last patrol to leave Balleul before the
Germans entered that town related an
incident showing how lots of Flemish
peasants refused to abandon their
homes, even when surrounded with
danger.
The patrol was clearing out from
the town after all the other British
troops had left. The civilians had sup
posedly been got away long before,
but as the patrol was passing cottage
the soldier saw some one was within
and investigated. He found an aged
man and his wife who were sitting be-
fore the fireplace, waiting for they
knew not what.
The Germans were pressing close,
but even when told of this the old peo-
pie begged to be allowed to remain in
their home. They finally were per-
suaded to go into safety, and left,
weeping bitterly. The correspondent
has seen many similar instances in the
past days among these stoical people