The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-04-11
BRITISH ARE
DRIVEN FROM
ARmENTIERES
BY GERMANS
Enemy Drives Three Miles
Beyond River Lys to La
Creche, but Are Later Gust
ed by British Forces.
FIGHT HAND TO HAND
(By Associated Press)

(By Associated Press)
Armentieres has been evacu-
ated by the British while the
Germans driving in from the
southwest of the town are
struggling to push forward to
the area southwest of Messines
ridge, the key point of the Brit
ish line in Flanders.
Messines ridge itself has been
the objective of desperate 'front.'
al attacks and the Germans are
reported to have pushed on to
the ridge several times during
the fierce hand to hand fight
ing. Each time, however, the
British came back at them with
effective counter-attacks and
today were still holding the
ridge.
West of Armentieres the en-
emy, struggling in his deep sa-
lient, has pushed the fighting to
the limit and at one time sue
ceeded in driving some three
miles beyond the river Lys to
LaCreche. In this situation the
British likewise reacted strong
ly and vigorous counter-attacks
ousted the Germans from La
Creche and other neighboring
terrian.
Town Full of Gas.
The evacuation of Armen-
there's had been forecast and dis
counted as the play is with
out strategical value. What is
left of the town is full of gas
hanging there from the copious
gas shell bombardment.
North of Armentieres the
British position hinges on Ploeg-
steert and Ploegsteert wood
which the line bisected this
morning.
There was no let up, in the
engagement today the battle
continuing on the entire 25-mile
front from La Bassee north to
the Ypres- s-Comines canal Just
below Ypres.
(By Associated Press) y
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE AND BELGIUM. April IL
The Germans this morning were in
possession OF about half of the village
OF Ploegsteert and Ploegsteert wood
on the Flanders battle front lust to
the north of Armentieres.
On the northern battle front. Amer
lean soldiers, the vanguard of a large
force, have joined the British armies.
The first force was only a battalion in
strength, but other American contin-
gents are moving forward rapidly.
General Pershing's men were greeted
| enthusiastically by the British.
Desperate fighting continues uuin-
terruptedly on a. 25 mile front be-
tween Givenchy and Wytschaete, with
the Germans suffering severe losses
for small gains against the strong
defense. In two days of heavy en-
gagements the enemy has not yet
gained any point of strategicaI i'm
portance and the British still domi-
nate the battlefield from the heights
OF Messines ridge on the north and
Giyenchy on the south
| Below Armentierres, where the at
| tack was launched Tuesday, the Ger
mans have made little additional pro-
| o1t oh
| the left bank of the Lys between
Estaires and Bac ST Maur Repeated
| attacks against the British line be-
tween Estaires and Givenchy toward
| Bethune, have been checked sangui-
narily. Berlin claims the capture Of
5000 men and 100 guns in this sector
Tuesday.
| North of Armentieres the Germans
/ after driving the British from their
| first defenses in the lowland, have
been unable to gain the crest of Mass
| ines Ridge. despite many furious
| assaults. Armentieres is still in Brit
| ish hands, but it is the apex of q
/ sharp salient as the result Of the two
days fighting and British withdrawal
| to west of the Lys is probable.
Emperor William and the German
| military leaders in the present often
/ sive, it is reported in dispatches from
| the battle front, plan the wiping out
/ of the British army. 1t Is believed
| that the Germans now are seriously
attempting, by swinging their attacks
| to the north to annihilate the British
resistance. In consequence further
assaults along the British front much
| desperate fighting is expected.
Infantry fighting on the Picardy bat
| tlefront has quieted down momentAr-
| lily. The French and German artillery
| fire has been violent north Of Mont
didier and along the Disc Canal. north
west of Scissors. There have been
artillery exchanges on the Brits which
has not yet been linked up with the
northern battle field. There has been
| no infantry activity On the Locs-Lens-
/ Vimy sector, the connection link, al
though the German artillery fire II
| increasing.