The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-07-10
BRITISH IMPROVED
LINE IN FLANDERS
They Advanced Their Line
Slightly Near Merris and
Strengthened Defenses to
the Railroad Junction of
HazebrOuck
(By the Associated Press

There are indications that the Germans
are preparing an effort of some magni-
tude to recapture the valuable high
ground won by the Australians and
Americans within the past few days on
the front east of Amiens, north of Viii
lers -Bretonneux
Local attacks occurred in the southern
part of this region last night, but the
British had little trouble in dealing with
them. This morning, however, the enemy
artillery opened a bombardment of con-
siderable intensity in this sector over a
front Of about an eighth of mile from
Villers- -Bretonneux, north of the Ancre.
The only infantry operation within
the past "a hours in which ground was
gained is reported by Field Marshal Haig.
1t occurred on the Flanders front, where
the British advanced their line slightly
near Merris. This improves the position
which protects Nieppe wood and the
other approaches to Hazebrouck, the rail
way junction back of the wood, eontin-
ued possession of which is so vital to the
maintenance of the British line on the
Ypres front.
Comparative quiet prevailed on the
French front, the only activity of note
being artillery duels north of Montdidier
and in the Longpont region, in the north
erly part of the Marine front, where the
French recently made extensive local
gains of ground.
The region north of MontdidieT, whence
a considerable volume of shelling is re-
ported, includes the Cantigny sector, held
by American troops.
The sectors of the Marine salient held
by the Americans were unusually quiet
yesterday and last night, the artillery
fire being far below the normal. Such
firing as the American gunners indulged
in was mainly directed against the Ger
mans in the neighborhood of hill 204,
west of Chateau Thierry.
Berlin continues to report officially
that all the allied efforts are being re-
pulsed. Allied patrol actions are made
to appear as attacks and allied attacks
as small raids Claim is made by the
German command that Successful local
engagement" have been fought west of
Chateau Thierry, where the Americans
and French hold the line northwestward
toward the Retz forest, east of Villers-
Cotterets. Allied communiques make no
mention of any fighting there
Franco-I Italian successes in Albania ap-
parently threaten the Austro- Hungarian
situation in central Albania. The French
are making good gains in eastern AL
bania, west of Lake Ochrida, while the
Italians are advancing speedily in the
west. The Austrian line appears to be
Vshaped, with the allies pressing hard
on both TANKS and the point of the
salient being near Berat. An Austrian
retirement of any moment would prob.
ably compel the Bulgarians to rearrange
their lines in Macedonia east of Lake
Ocrid.
Admiral Won Hintze, the German min
lister at Christiania, it is reported, will
succeed DR.. Richard Won Kuehlmann as
German foreign secretary. Emperor Will
liam is said to have accepted Won Kuehl-
mann's resignation, which probably was
brought forth by remarks made in his
recent speech to the Reichstag as to the
improbability of ending the war by force
of arms. Admiral Won Hintze is the
former minister to China and Mexico.