New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-11
By Arthur S. Draper
tribune Cable Service

tribune Cable Service>
LONDON, April 1O-Under the /
cloak of a heavy mist that gave him
an opportunity to concentrate his
forces without being observed by /,
the British lookouts, the enemy has
extended the battle front north of
Armentieres. From La Bassee as
far north as Holebeke the battle
RACES violently, with the Germans
advancing slowly.
On the south they have driven a
sharp wedge in the centre of the
battle front and have pushed the
Portuguese and British forces back
of the line of the rivers Lave and
Lys, some three and half miles
west of their old line of trenches,
which has been unchanged since
1915.
r To the north of Armentieres Won
Buelow's army struck hard blow
against the British lines. and at this
writing Armentieres lies in an awk
ward salient. The enemy troops
succeeded in capturing part of the
famous Ploegsteert Woods, but they
were repulsed on the high ground.
Bitter Fighting at Givenchy
Givenchy, the scene of bitter fight
ing three years ago, is again the
centre of violent struggle. The
enemy captured it in his first, rush,
but the town was retaken promptly
by the British, along with $50 pris-
oners. Fierce fighting is reported
along the whole line, Haig stating
that his wings are holding. The
Germans have captured many guns
and prisoners.
All night the battle ragged in the
Amiens sector in the struggle for
lanyard en- Santerre, and the
French finally gained the upper
hand. To the west Of Castel, where
the enemy's line runs close to the
Amiens- Paris railway, the French
repulsed thrust into the woods.
Generally there has been little
charge in this portion Of the front,
where the fighting, though local in
character, has been extremely fierce.
Correspondents report that Amer
lean troops are now in the British
fighting zone, and the news that their
efforts helped to stop the rush of
the German hordes should come
soon.
British Occupy High Ground
The right wing of the new Ger
man attack faces the toughest OF
natural obstacles, Messines Ridge
presenting a barrier as difficult to
surmount as does Vimy Ridge, north
of Arras. Beyond Messines Ridge
there are a number Of heights, such
as KENNEL and Scherfrenberg
which serve as fine observation posts
for the British, overlooking the coun
try for miles in every direction.
Thus, the northern end Of the new
battlefield runs through hilly coun
try, while the southern part passes
through flat, chalky country, stained
red by the blood Of the many who fel
at Neuve Chapelie, at Festubert ant
at Givenchy, in 1914 and 1915.
Armentieres has been within cas-,
range Of the enemy ever since tn,
armies settled down to trench war
fare. Only q she'll Of the town re
NAMED when / was there last,
couple Of months ago Though on az
ordinary map Armentieres seems
only a stones throw from Lille. tn,
big German base in this sector, sever
miles separate them.
Northwest Of ArmentiGres lic
Baiileul, and fifteen miles to tbs ives
In Hazebrouch, both towns about ths
size OF Albert and Bapaumc. Wher
the enemy hit this morning north
west Of Armentieres he undoubtedl,
had hopes Of makiry this town th>
tip Of a sharp salient from which The
British would have difficulty in with
drawing. But his chief objective i,