The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-04-10
ASSOCIATED Press,

=
BATTLE FRONT EXTENDED
ried the fighting in the great battle on
the western front into Flanders and
extended the battle front to a stretch
of approximately 130 miles from near
the Belgian town of YpFes, in the
north, to the vicinity of Coucy-LeCha-
teau. on the extreme French right.
The fresh German blow, struck yes
terday between LaBassee and Armen-
there's, has already driven deep sail
ent into the British lines below Armen-
there's and the Armentieres region IT.
self was reported under attack this
morning
The infantry fighting is spreading
to the northward following heavy
bonn mbardment by the German guns
| which extended as far as the Ypres-
Confines canal, just to the southeast
of Ypres.
Armentferes, already near the tip OF
sharp bend in the line, has now been
further pocketed and seems in serious
peril from converging attacks north
and south.
Hold on River Lys.
The British, however, are holding
the line on the river Lys, to the south
| west of the town and at the latest re-
port had prevented an attempted
crossing by the Germans.
The maximum depth Of the German
! penetration was approximately about
Az miles at Estaires. Givenchy, at
one time in German hands during the
attack was retaken by the British In
a counter thrust
The German effort on this new
/ front if it succeeds to further extent
| than it apparently has SO far, does not
seem likely to have any greater effect
than to compel notifications in the
British line north OF Labassee canal.
! II the British can continue to hold
| Givenchy the front to the southwark
would hardly be disturbed and the dt
| rect effect of the drive on the greater
/ battle to the south would be negl;-
gible.
There remains the possibility Of the
attack north of Armentierrs develop
| ing further importance with relation
| to the Flanders line as whole. The
British are well placed on high
ground at the salient point in this re-
gion, however, which they were not
! in the region south of Armentierres.
! the Germans holding the advantage of
| the terrain there.
Hun Purpose not Clear.
| In new offensive movement be-
tween Arras and Ypres the Germans
i have pushed back the center of the
| allied line on an eleven mile front.
! Heavy fighting still goes on with the
British and Portuguese striking hard
| against the enemy on the lire of the
river Lys southwest of Armentieres.
+, and the British holding the advances
| in check south of Armentierres and
| Givenchy, the extreme ends OF the
| battle front
| The purpose of the German effort
| is not yet clear 1t has only succeed
ed in entering the foremost defenses
at several points along the front, but
should the enemy drive through to
beyond Bethune and the Clarence riv-
er the strong British positions at Ar
ras and Ypres would be endangered
The first onslaught, however. did not
! make any great gain, although the
Germans attacked in strong force af-
ter a most severe artillery lombard
| ment of AS hours.
On a front of about four miles. DC
tween Neuve Chapelle and Carbon
Mere farm, the Portuguese and Brit
| ish have been driven back about q
mile and Laventie, west OF Fauquis-
sart, is in German hands. The enemy
also has occupied Rochebourg-St
Vaast, south of Neuve Chapelle On
the northern end the British still hold
Felurbaix and have thrown back the
Germans at the Labasses canal, on
| the southern extremity.
Artillery DueIs Violent.
For more than eighteen months
there has been no heavy operations
on this front. Prior to the offensive
| in Picardy. the Germans had bonn
| barded this front heavily. Raids and
Continued on Page Ten)