The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-04-19
WEEKLY WAR REVIEW

The entire allied line in Belgium
and France is still holding firm after
three weeks of a combat which has
eclipsed anything that has RACED dur
ing the entire four years OF warfare.
1t was announced officially at Lon
don, April 15, that, despite furious
attacks delivered against the British
line in Flanders, tho Germans failed
to gain an inch of ground. Thousands
of German dead are lying before tho
British positions southwest of Ypres.
where it is the ambition of the nigh
German command to break through
and envelope Field Marshal Haig's
forces and gain an open highway to-
ward the English channel.
During the week the Germans cap.
tured Armentieres and drove their
wedge westward to Merville, eight
miles distant. Furious fighting took
place in the region of Ypres, Arras
and other points along the British
line, the Germans suffering enormous
losses in carrying out their attacks
Near Montd!dier and Noyon the
French delivered successful counter
attacks. Berlin claims the capture
of 10000 British during the battle Of
Armentiere5
Americans in the Toul sector have
been under heavy bombardment, the
Germans continuing their efforts to
break through to the third line of the
American positions. They made two
attacks, 10th of which failed. The
enemys casualties in the four days
fighting are estimated at between
300 and 400.
The allies now stand on a front
which has been dented and battered
but which is very strong throughout
Tracing this line from the south, it is
found to leave the old battle front at
Braucourt, west of Laon. From this
point it runs to the west, passes
south of Coucy-le-Chateau and curves
north until it reaches the Disc river,
which it follows until 1t reaches a
point south Of Noyon. Here the line |
crosses over some high hills and runs
Just north of west to Mesnil, west of
where 1t turns to the |
north. This line is continued as faI |
as Castel, where it turns northeast |
10 Hangard, and then by a crooked
line through Albert to point east of
Here the line runs off
10 the northeast through Bucquop and
Boisleaux to Fampoux, east of Arras.
At this point it turns north to be-
yond Lens and then turns sharply to
he northwest past Bethune, entering
he scene of the most bitter fighting.
t continues as far as Merville, which
marks the farthest advance of the
Germans in their present offensive
and then bends to the
northeast to Passchendaele, north
md east of Ypres. Here it curves to
he northwest to Merckem, ant
hence north over the lowlands OF
Belgium to Nieuport and the sea.
Field Marshal Haig of the British
rmy issued a command to his men
o hold their ground at whatever cost
Ie declares that Great BritaiD's
rmies in Flanders and France stand
t bay, and that there must be no
urther retirement.
Artillery duels featured the week
n the Italian front. Finland is being
verrun by the Germans and the rall
( Helsingfors, the capital, is immi-
ent.
The Turks and Germans have been
the British lines north of
ericho since April 10 and entered
ritish positions both east and west
f the Jordan, but London says they
ere driven out by counter attack.
April 16.-Seven assaults against
lie British trenches at Merville, near
le apex of The triangular dent in the
ritish line, have been hurled back
v the British. NeuVe Eglise, on the
ztreme southwestern spur of Mes.
mes ridge, has been taken by tie
ermanS.
American forces near Toul are
anding firm before heavy attacks
Y the Germans and have hell their
nes intact in spite of all the we.sht
men and metal the 1arrly has
osed against them The Germans
ave lost heavily
April 1.-THE important strategic
wns Of Balllieul, Wulverghem aid
'ytschaete have fallen into German
lnds, and, more important still. the
eutons have carried a large part Of
esslnes ridge by storm. Messines
1ge is the key to the Ypres sector.
ID its poss ession will give the Ger =
ans a commanding position in start.
z q new drive.