Evening star., 1918-04-11
Violent Battle From
La Bassee to Ypres
Canal.
TEUTONS NOW IN
STEENWERCK AREA
Hais's S Men Regain Some
Towns - Still Hold
Messines Ridge.

By the Associated Press-
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE AND BELGIUM, April IL
Tho fighting was continuing this morn
in. north of Armen11eres with the Brit
ish still holding Messines ridge and
wytschaete, which yesterday changed
hands several times. During the day
the enemy succeeded in entering not
only these positions, but La Creche,
Nieupe and Hollebeke. Vigorous coun-
ter attacks forced the enemy from all
these places.
The Germans this morning were IN
nossession of about half the village of
ploeesteert and Ploegsteert wood, on
the Flanders battle front just to the
north of Armentieres.
Five Miles West Of Armentieres.
LONDON, April 1.-The Germans
pushed on yesterday from Croi1-du-Bae,
southwest Of Armentieres, and parties
Of them are reported in the neighbor-
hood Of steenwerck (about five miles
west Of Armentieres), Reuters corre-
spondent at British headquarters re-
ports. Yesterday noon the enemy oecu-
pied Lestrem, but in the course OF the
afternoon the British drove him out and
across the River Lave.
Quit Armentieres-
The British have withdrawn from Ar
mentieres on the northern battle 'front.'
the war ofsca announced. Violent fight
inr continues all along the front from
In Bassee canal to the eXpeaasa
canal. On the front north Of Armen-
tieres heavy fighting was continuing
late last night. There was little change
in the British positions.
Text Of Statement.
The statement follows:
.rhs battle is continuing on the whole
front. from Ia Bassee canal to the
Ypres-Comines canal
Severe fghting has taken place In
the neighborhood Of the Lave and Lys
canals. from about Lestrem to Armen-
tierss. Our troops have been with
drawn from Armentieres. which is full
Of gas.
NORTH Of Armentieres there Is little
cuange In the situation. Heavy nght-
fne was continuing at late hour last
nisht in the neighborhood of Ploes-
steert, Messines and Wytschaete.
'On the remainder of the British
front there is nothing to report.
Last Nights Report.
LONDON, April 1o.-The text Of the
night statement reads:
.sFollowing upon the bombardment
already reported. the enemy this morn
ing launched fresh attack in strength
against our positions between the Lys
river and Armentieres and the Ypres-
Confines canal. Heavy fighting has
been taking place IN this sector to
whole front of yesterdays attack, north
of La Bassee canal.
North of Arnentieres the weight OF the
enemy's assaults pressed our troops back
to the line Wytschaete- Messines ridge and
Ploegsteerst.
Bodies Of German infantry who had
forced their way into Messines were driven
out this morning by a counter attack.
Enemy Crosses the Lys.
South OF Arment1eres the enemy sue
ceeded after a prolonged struggle In es-
tablishing himself on the left bank Of the
Lys river at certain points east OF Estaires
and In the neighborhood Of Bac St. Maur.
f'This morning the enemy also crossed
the Lave at Lestrem, but was counter
attacked by our troops and driven out OF
the village and back across the river.
Between Estaires and Givenchy our
positions have been maintained. On other
parts Of the British front the day again
passed comparatively quietly"
Aerial Operations
An oniciaI statement on aerial opera
tions tonight says:
~During the morning the whole front
was covered with a mist which pre-
vented any of our airplanes leaving the
ground Later in the day when there
was a slight improvement in the
weather our machines reconnoitered
the new battlefront between LeEassee
and Armentieres and bombed and en-
gaged with machine gun fire the enc
my's attacking troops.
Hostile low-flying machines also
were active in this sector. Four OF
these machines were brought down by
our airplanes and one was shot down
by our infantry. Two Of our airplane,
are missing?'