The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-04-17
GERMANS WIN
Three TOWNS
FROM BRITISH
Occupy WytsChaete, Spanbroek-
moIen and BaiIIeuI-BritiSh
in New Positions.
PART OF MESSiNES RIDGE LOST
Most of Ridge Captured From Haia's
Troops, but Defenders Still Fight
Desperately to Hold Slopes
Against Overwhelming
German Forces.


London, April 17.-"The same spirit
that carried your army through 1914
sustains us all again today against
overwhelming Odds" says Field Mar
shall Haig in a telegram sent to Field
Marshal French, thanking him for a
message of encouragement.
London, April 17.-Field Marshal
Haig, in his official report, announces
the occupation by the Germans of both
Wytschaete and Spanbroekmolen.
The war office announced that the
Germans have captured Bailleul on the
northern battle front, following fierce
battle, in which the enemy made use
of three divisions Of picked men who
had not previously engaged in the bat
tie.
The British have fallen back to new
positions north of Bailleul and Wul-
verghem.
Part of Messines Ridge Lost.
Ottawa, April 17.-German troops
have carried Wytschaete and the great
er part of MesSines ridge according to
a dispatch from the Reuter- correspond
ent at British headquarters in France,
received here.
The enemy also has established him.
self in Spanbrokmolen. The British
are still clinging to the slopes of Mes
sines ridge, battling desperately to re-
pei the attacks made upon them by
overwhelming German forces.
Huns Win by Surprise Attack.
Berlin, April 1.-THE official COM
municatiOn from general headquarters
says German attacks on the Lys bat
tlef1eld met with complete success.
The great mine craters of the
Wytschaete battle of 1917 were taken
by surprise attack.
After a brief bOmbardment the Ger
mans stOrmed Wulverghem in a sur
prise attack, also the British positions
on both sides of the village.
British counter-attacks failed COM
pletely, says the report
German troops scaled the heights be-
tween Neuve Chapelle and Bailleul and
captured them in a vigorous hand-to-
hand fight
Germans Use Up Fresh Troops.
The statement reads:
'1n the evening, preceded by an
intense bOmbardment, the enemy
launched very heavy attacks against
our positions between Bailleul and
Neuve Eglise. The assault was deliv-
cred by three picked German divisions
which had been previously engaged
in the battle and it succeeded after a
fierce and bitter struggle in carrying
the high ground southeast and east Of
Bailleul known as Mount de Lille and
Revetsberg. Our troops on this point
have fallen back to new positions to
the north of Bailleul and Wulver-
CHEM. Bailleul has fallen into the en-
emy's hands
RepuIse Hun Attacks.
Severe fighting has been taking
place on the front from Meteren to
Wytschaete. AT dawn the enemy re-
newed his attacks in strength in the
neighborhood of Wytschaete and
Spanbrockmolen.
supported by heavy bombardment,
his troops approached our positions
under cover Of the mist, and after a
prolonged struggle gained possession
of both localities"
"In the morning fresh German at
tacks developed In the neighborhood
of Wyschaeter.
"At Meteren the enemy also Sue
ceeded during the morning in obtaining
fighting is continuing.
"On other parts of the above front
the enemy's attacks were repulsed.
"In the morning the enemy also de-
livered a strong local attack upon our
positions opposite Boyelles, south of
Arras, and fighting is still taking place
In this neighborhood.
THE hostile artillery has been more
active south of Albert and in the neigh
borhood of La Bassee canal. Bodies
of German infantry assembling In the
vicinity of LOGON were engaged and
dispersed by our artillery. There has
both sides In the Passchendaele sec
tor"
"A number of prisoners were
taken by us during the night In suc-
cessful minor enterprise southeast of
RobecG
French Take Prisoners.
Paris, April 17.-Heayy artillery
fighting occurred at night on the main
battle front In the neighborhood of
Montdidier. the war office announces.
The French captured a machine gun
and prisoners near the Disc canal.