The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-04-12
BRITISH LOSE
ARMENT|ERES;;
HALT ATTACKS
Haig's' Troops Smash Enemy's
Drive for Town of HoIebeke
in Belgium.
GERMANS ADVANCE five MILES
Teutons Reported in Neighborhood OF
Steenwervk Violent Fighting
Along Front From La Bassee
to Ypres-Comines Canal.

10 FHFCS-AOfTlIHCS SdTdl.
London, April 12.-The Germans
launched formidable attack against
the Belgian town of Hollebeke, says
Reuter- dispatch from British head
quarters. They came forward in
massed waves, which were completely
repulsed with terrible execution.
Foe West of Armentieres.
The Germans pushed on from Croix
du Bac, southwest of Armentieres, and
parties of them are reported in the
neighborhOod of Steenwerck (abOut
i've miles west Of Armentieres), says
another dispatch from the Reuter- cor
respondent at British headquarters.
The enemy occupied Lestcem. but
In the course of the afternoon the
British drove him out and across the
River Lave.
The. British have withdrawn from
Armentieres on the northern battle
front, the war office announces. The
town is reported to be reeking with
gas.
Violent fighting continues all along
the front from La Bassee canal to the
Ypres- Confines canal
On the front north of Armentieres
heavy fighting was continuing There
was little change in the British posi-
tiOns.
Huns Claim New Gains.
Berlin, April 12.-The official COM
municatiOn issued from general head.
quarters says the battle near Armen.
there's is taking a further favorable
course and that the Germans have
penetrated into the suburbs of the
town.
South of Estates the Lave has
been crossed at some points.
The number of prisoners has in
creased to considerably more than
10000, including a Portuguese gen
eral.
French Fire HaIts Foe
Paris, April PA German attack
the French fire.
On the principal battle front there
was heavy artillery fighting between
Montdidier and Noyon
British Hold Ridge.
With the British Army In France
and Belgium, April 12.-The fighting
continues north of Armentieres with
the British still holding Messines
ridge and Wytschaete, which changed
hands several times
During the day the enemy succeed
ed in entering not only these posi-
tions, but La Creche, Nieppe and Hol-
lebeke. Vigorous counter-attacks
places.
The Germans in the morning were
in possession of about half of the vii
lage of Ploegsteert and Ploegsteert
wood on the Flanders battle front just
to the north of Armentieres
Germans Press Attacks.
The Germans are particularly de-
sirous of capturing Messines ridge
and Wytschaete and pressed their At
tacks there hard throughout the day.
Much sanguinary hand-to-hand fight
ing occurred at these places. the tide
VA OuNeA~ SUI Sih6 biSh uhd lOI
many hours before the enemy finally
abandoned temporarily his attempts
here.
Coincident with the attack north of
ArInentieres the enemy continued to
push northwestward from Croix du
Bac, below Armentieres, in order TO
complete the pocketing of the latter
city.
Hard fighting occurred about Es-
taires and at one time the Germans
had d footing In the southern edge of
the city. The battle here is still con-
tinuing.
The enemy artillery was active in
the Somme region.
Since the announcement that Amer
lean troops had made their appearance
In the sectors occupied by the British
there has been nothing TO show that
they have actually entered into the
battle.
British Are Confident.
London, April PA telegram TO
Reuters from British Headquarters In
France reads:
There is general disposition to
consider the situation in Flanders as
pretty well in hand and, although
fighting is continuing on q heavy
scale, the outlook Is viewed with con.
ndence"
Loans to Allies Now Sc, ,2s5, 800 600
Washington. April 12.-France rot
another credit from the treasury of
F1cS OOo n00 ,,.trtz r.,,