The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-06
FRENCH HALT HARD ATTACK
PetaIn's Forces Push Forward East Of
Lassigny and Now Down Attacking
Huns South OF MoreuII--Foe
Beaten Back.


German attack near Rollot and
gained ground north Of Flemont. The
war office announcement says:
'The day was marked by quite spir-
tied artillery fighting particularly be-
tween Montdidier and Lassigny. Our
batteries caught under their fire enemy
concentrations east Of Cantigny. A
strong German reconnaissance at
tackled by our troops on the left bank
of the Disc, southwest of Servais. was
repulsed.
''In the Woevre and upper Aisace
enemy attacks were without result.
1.-THE night was relatively calm on
the front between the Disc and the
Somme. The artillery fighting became
rather heavy along some parts Of the
battlefield.
'Franco-British troops made some
progress between the somme and De-
NUN.
"In the region of the Colonne trench
and at Ban de Sapt the French made
two successful raids"
British Repulse Hunes
London. April 4.-British troops,
after sharp fighting Tuesday night. re-
pulsed determined attack by the Ger
mans In the neighborhood Of Fam
poux, the war office announced.
The town of Ayette (about eight
miles southwest of Arras) is again in
British possession, the statement an
nounces. The statement readsi
"At dawn yesterday determined
attack made by strong party Of the
enemy against our positions in the
neighborhood of Fampoux was re-
pulsed after sharp fighting. A num-
Der Of German dead and a few pris-
oners were left In our hands.
"A successful local operation was
undertaken by US last night In the
neighborhood Of Ayette, which is now
in our possession"
Hun Prisoners Taken.
"Over a hundred prisoners and three
machine guns were captured by us"
the official announcement says.
1--WE secured few prisoners yester-
day through the enterprise in the
neighborhood Of Serre already re-
ported.
"There is nothing further to report
from the battle front.
Lincolnshire troops raided the enc
my's trenches northeast of Loos yes
terday morning and captured 81 pris-
oners and a machine gun. Another
successful raid In which we captured
few men was carried out by us last
night northeast Of Poelcappelle.'
Down 18 Hun Planes.
British aviators were very active
Monday on the battle front In France.
dropping II tons Of bombs and bring
ing down 18 German airplanes and
two balloons. The official statement
on aviation says that the night bomb
Ing sQuadrons dropped bombs on rail-
way stations in the area behind the
German lines. The statement reads!
"There was good visibility Monday,
and our low-fying airplanes again we're
active. More than seventeen tons Of
bombs were dropped, and thousands Of
rounds were fired from the air at the
enemy's infantry and other targets on
the ground. Hostile aircraft also were
active on the southern portion Of our
'front.' some Of their two-seated ma
chimes firing at our troops with ma
chine guns from low heights
"Ten hostile airplanes were de-
stroyed and six others driven down out
of control. Another airplane was
brought down within our lines by In
fantry. Two hostile balloons were de-
stroyed by our airplanes, Eleven OF
our machines are missing.
after dark our night-fying ma
chimes bombed enemy railway stations.
billets, troops and transport, drop
ping many bombs on the Cambria rail-
way station, on the station southeast
Of Douai, on the railway line south OF
that town, as well as on other targets.
All Of our machines returned"
British Official Report.
The report from Field Marshal
Haig's headquarters In France Tues
day night says:
Except for minor enterprises which
we carried out in the neighborhood Of
Serre and as result of which we cap
tured German post, the day passed
more quietly on the whole battle front.
.In the course Of the fighting In the
area between the Avre and the Luce
rivers we captured 80 prisoners and Is
machine guns. A large number of Ger
man dead were found on the ground
and two counter-attacks attempted By
the enemy later In the day were bro
ken up with heavy loss BY our artil.
lery.
German Battery sIienced.
"A German battery in action In this
area was successfully engaged ct shqse