The Colorado statesman., 1918-04-27
BOMB WHOLE BRITISH LINE FROM
NORTH OF ALBERT TO JUNO
TION WITH FRENCH.
BRITISH WRECK HARBOR
HAIG's MEN REPULSE ATTACKS
IN FLANDERS-GERMANs AND
DUTCH ENJOYS QUIT.
western Newspaper Union News Service.

London, April 25.-Heralded by
heavy artillery preparation over a
wide extent of the front, the enemy
has made a new bid for Amiens, but
according to reports, with only slight
success, namely, the capture of the
village of ers-Bretonneux after all
day fighting. Attacks in the other Sec
tors have all been repulsed
The official statement issued by the
French war office last night says that
Franco-American positions south of
the Somme and on the Avre were at
tackled by the Germans in considerable
force at $40 o'clock Wednesday morn
ing. This is the first intimation of the
location of American troops on the
Picardy front.
After three weeks of preparation in
the Somme, during which time they
launched an Offensive in Flanders, the
Germans have resumed their hammer
ing at the front door of Amiens. For
days there has been heavy artillery
firing along the northern sectors OF
the Somme salient, and finally the
German infantry began their attempts
to advance on the line passing Villers-
Bretonneux, Hangard, Hailles and Cas-
tel The first attacks were repulsed,
but subsequent attacks centered about
Villers-Bretonneux, have caused Brit
ish withdrawal from this village, ac-
cording to report from Field Marshal
Haig. This marks a German gain of
about a mile. Villers-Bretonneu is
about eleven miles directly east OF
Amiens and is ON the northern end of
the latest fighting front. 1t is situated
between the Somme and Luce rivers
and, while it is flanked on the south
by low-lying ground, it is backed by
rolling hills to the west and northwest.
The fighting on the rest of the front
where the Germans have resumed
their drive toward the allied base of
supplies in northern France has not,
SO far as known, resulted in any nota
BILE retirement from the part of the al
lies. The German official report is
sued on Wednesday was silent as to
events in this sector of the front
London, April 25.-Not only was the
mouth of the canal at Zeebrugge
blocked, but British sailors and mar
ines who participated in the raid on
the German submarine bases believe
that they destroyed every gun on the
mole, demolished the sheds through
out it's entire length and blew up large
stores of munitions contained in the
sheds, according to reports by the sur
vivors to the correspondent of the
Daily Chronicle at a Kentish port.
Amsterdam, April 25.-The Hetvolk
announces that the German minister
to The Netherlands has left The
Hague for Berlin, and that the Dutch
minister to Germany is on his way
from Berlin to The Hague. The Ber-
lin correspondent of Nieuwe Rotter-
damsche Courant Is informed by per-
son in authority that difficulties have
arisen in the negotiations between |
Germany and Holland and that the ne
gotiations are not making headway.
London, April "a. - The British |
gained ground east of Robecq, accord
ing to Field Marshal Haig's report, |
and improved their position around !
Meteren. Numerous prisoners were
captured. Berlin claims that thirty |
British planes were brought down the
past two days The fighting continued
in the region of Aveluy wood, near AL
bert. The British advanced their line
south of the wood some 250 yards
along front of 1000 yards. Other
wise there was little change in the sit.
uation.
Washington, April 23.-Gen. Per.
shing's first report on the German as
sault upon the American and French
forces in the Toul sector Saturday is
understood to indicate that the Ameri-
ties, and to estimate the German
losses at between 300 and 400.
With the American Army in France,
April 23.-"Our troops were over
whelmed by superiority of numbers,
but fought 70 a finish.'
This was the official characterize
ton by field commander of the
American troops, who successfully re-
pulsed an enemy onslaught in the Toul
sector. in his report to headquarters.
London.-British naval forces Tues
day raided the German submarine
bases of Ostend and Zeebrugge, the
announces. Five old cruis-
ers which had been filled with con-
crete for use in blocking the channels
were run aground, blown up and
abandoned by their crews.
Amsterdam.-A dispatch from a
poipt IN tho pnJOiop hordar |