davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-04-28

HVHE chief military interest in
\ the period since my last dis
patch and up to the opening
of the new German attack now un-
der way has centred in the Ger
man attack along the Lys, where.
in spite of considerable gains, the
enemy at the close of the twelfth
days fighting has failed to reach
any vitally important detectives.
He is apparently held, for The mo-
ment at least, by the increasing
strength of the defensive forces,
upon the area which he overran for
the most part in the first five days.
His main object, which is to COM
pei the British to retire from the
whole eastern part of the coast to
the line of the River Aa, and thus
to uncover Dunkirk and imperil
the Straits of Dover, he can ac-
complish if he seizes Hazebrouck
and the main line of hills from
KENNEL to the Mont des Chats. He
will advance this object also,
though he will not Immediately at
tain it, if he can seize Bethune,
which would badly impede British
communication.
If the enemy finds himself un-
able to effect either of these tasks,
and is compelled to admit his fail
ure to achieve the important re-
suits in the Lys offensive, the sig
nal of his confession of defeat will
be his choice of still another sector
of the line for attack. Two such
sectors suggest themselves-one
Immediately to the north of Ypres,
where large concentrations of
enemy forces are said to have been
observed (but not on official evil
dence); the other between Arras
and Albert.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-28
Military Value of
Bailleul Not Great

This last event has been exag-
gerated by general opinion simply
because the name of Bailleul is ia
miliar and the little town is
larger than any other place in the
neighborhood. The military value
of the success here was only that
the enemy had reached the foot of
the hills.
His occupation of Messines was
New-York tribune., 1918-04-28

OF much more consequence, for
while it would compel the Allies to
withdraw on the north somewhat
toward Ypres Ca minor matter, in
New-York tribune., 1918-04-28

tne LyS, SINCE my last article the
course of events has been as fol-
lows
On Sunday, April ID, the enemy
made long and determined at
tempts to reach and hold the foot
hills that line the heights running
along the north side of the biz
bulge which had previously been
forced into the British line by the
first five days Of the offensive. This
was the principal line of the Brit
ish defence in this district. The
enemy did not during that day at
tempt to press heavily toward the
west, either toward the junction of
the railroads at Bethuqe or at
Hazebrouck. His weight was
thrown upon the north.
1t will be remembered that the
enemy's first success during the
week, that is, during the first five
days of the battle from dawn of
Tuesday, the 9th, until Saturday,
the 18th, at night, had put him into
possession Of triangle very much
the same in shape (though smaller
in it's dimensions) as the triangle
he had occupied 'during his great
advance upon the Somme battle
field in the weeks before. This
triangle was also right-angled
one 1t had base of about fifteen
miles running from Givenchy,
which was still inside the British
line and which covered Bethune, to
the Messines Ridge, in general di-
rection from southwest to north
east, like the base of the great
southern triangle from Noyon to
Vimy Ridge in front of A1ras. 1t
also had shorter line to the right
angle, facing southwestward and
running from Givenchy to the great
wood of Nieppe in front of Mer-
vile, like that leg of the southern
triangle which runs from Noyon to
Montdidier. 1t had, too, longer
side running from in front of Mer-
vile to the Messines Ridge, facing
northeast, and passing through or
just in front of Bailleul and Neuve
$ Eglise, just like the long line from
before Amiens to Arras.
Fighting on Both
Lines of the Angle
To break the resistance on one
side or the other, to get through
one or the other or both of these
two lines inclosing the right angle,
has been the whole of the enemy's
effort during the last few days, and
is the whole of his effort still. A
success on the shorter side would
give him the junction of Bethune
and impede communication be-
tween the Allies. Success upon the
longer side, to the north, would give
him the still more important juno
tion of Hazebrouck and the line of
hills running before that front and
parallel to it, hills which dominate
the plain and upon the outpost
hummocks of which lie Bailleul and
Neuve Eglise.
On Sunday, then, April Ia, the
enemy's main effort was confined
to the northern limb of the
triangle, and he was still held there
in the plain and had not yet got
upon the slopes of the hills. To OBJ :
tain possession of the hills he would
have to clear the Messines Ridge,
which fanked them on the east,
New-York tribune., 1918-04-28

volving neither loss of men and
guns nor worse positions) it did
far more, for it put the enemy
right ON the flank of the main line
New-York tribune., 1918-04-28
Foe Diverts to
Southern Line

AlCuOugH 50 lar nave only DeeH
mentioning places, it must, Of
course, be remembered chat these
four days of attack upon the north
ern leg of the salient were exceed
ingly expensive to the enemy, very
much more than to the far smaller
numbers to which the defensive
had been deliberately confined. The
enemy had already thrown in
thirty divisions, the divisional
numbers of twenty-eight among
which had been identified.
Following this check, or rather
this imperfect result, of the attack
in the north, he determined upon a
diversion against the southern
branch of the right angle, and
fought on Thursday, the 18th,
what might have been, had he sue
ceeded, the chief piece of work in
this whole field. 1t completely
failed, and the very fact Of it's
failure, the fact that the line did
not shift, masked the magnitude of
the effects of the battle.
The enemy decided on Thursday
night to turn his weight against
Bethune. He massed six divisions.
and after bombardment lasting
all that night he struck along the
whole of this southern side of the
triangle from Givenchy right away
to it's western apex. His two chief
points of attack were Givenchy it.
self and along the road called the
Hinges Road, which runs from
Merville to Bethune and used to
cross the canal near Hinges. The
bridge has now, of course, been de-
stroyed. The line of the canal COW
ering the district of Bethune here
corresponds with the Allied front.
and the enemy made most deter
mined effort to seize the bridge
head upon the far side. Had he
established this bridgehead it
would have enabled him to obtain
Bethune at the next blow.
He mustered his principal force
under cover of Pacaut Wood in
great depth. From first to last he
had seven OR eight men to every
yard on this critical mile and a
half. Between Pacaut Wood and
the waterway there are not two
New-York tribune., 1918-04-28

hundred yards Of open ground to
be crossed, but it was upon the ex-
traordinarily heavy losses which
the Germans suffered in their at
tempt to cross this very narrow
belt that the result turned.
Both Attacks
Beaten Off
Here, over a piece of ground we'll
within rifle shot from the British
defences on the left and fighting
for the ruined Hinges Bridge, he
struck with no less than two full
divisions, the 239th and the 24Oth.
The first attack, delivered while it
was still dark at 4 a. M, reached
the canal, then broke and was
driven back into the wood. An
other movement to the east Con the
German left) of this and right
against the ruined bridge itself
was also compelled to fall back. 1t
should be mentioned that in this
first effort few Of the enemy's men
survived the dash across the open
and reached the banks to begin
bridging the water. His main
forces were destroyed before they
could get across the clear ground,
and when any did cross their num-
bers were already so reduced on
reaching the bank that they could
have effected nothing.
The disorganization on the en-
emy's side as q result of these re-
pulses was serious, and nothing
further was attempted for over an
hour, when it was beginning to
grow light. At the end Of that
time, between S and a. M, fresh
division, working rather more to
the east, but aided by the remnants
Of the first defeated German
forces, made a second we'll sus-
tanned attack, which also reached
the canal, which also began the at
tempt to build a bridge, and which
also in it's turn failed. BY Z a. m.
the last effort of the enemy to cross
the canal which covers Bethune
had been abandoned.
The whole thing looks upon the
map to be purely negative, but it's
local effect was considerable. for
the same check was inflicted
against three divisions Of the Ger
mans who struck against the pillar
which holds this southern leg of
the defensive triangle at Givenchy.
Among the attackers was identi-
fed a fresh division, the 18th.
Here a couple Of outposts were
seized by the enemy, but the main
positions were held.
Enemy Still Has
New-York tribune., 1918-04-28
Heavy Losses Taken in Vain
at Givenchy and Robecq-
Belgians Hold Fast
Copyright, 19lS-The Tribune Association

through the hills and left him look
ing over TO Mount KENNEL. which
is the eastern height of that line.
The occupation of Messines Ridge
gave the enemy fair hope that he
might push in under it and so turn
the hills by the right Cor east), an
action which would have compelled
very rapid falling back of the
whole British line to the north of
them.
Wytschaete, and with it a por-
ton Of the ridge, were recovered
by counter attack, but were lost
again, so that on Tuesday the line
lay just under the highest points
of the Messines Ridge, and seemed
to give the Germans an oppor-
> tunity for further advance in the
gap below. But the fighting on
Wednesday gave the attackers no
results, and by evening of that day
the enemy here was still on the
same line, possessed, indeed, of the
heights of the Messines Ridge, but
unable, in spite of a very vigorous
effort, to advance further. He still
lay just north Of Neuve Eglise and
Bailleul and through Meteren-
that is, at the foot of the hills
without having advanced east or
west Of them in his turning move
ment.
The northern limb Of the right
angle was therefore intact, and all
this first half of the week resulted
in no more than the occupation OF
the Messines Ridge-an important
thing, it is true-and Of the slight
ly rising ground of Neuve Eglise,
Bailleul and Meteren,. which is of
little consequence until a serious
attempt is made to take the hills
behind Or to turn them and until
this attack succeeds or fails.
New-York tribune., 1918-04-28
Attempt to OutAank
British High Positions

1t is possible that the very con-
siderable action which developed
on Wednesday,, April II, was pre-
liminary to an attack on the first
named sector, though whether the
enemy's failure on that day will
prevent him from returning to the
offensive there, if he really intend
ed an important movement, we can
not yet tell. That action was the
assault upon the Belgian sector i'm
mediately outside the forest of
Houtholst in front of Bixschoote
and in the last bit of fairly dry land
before the marshes of the User be-
gin. These continue the line unin-
terruptedly thenceforward to the
north, through Dixmude, to Nieu-
port and the sea.
If this attack had pierced across
the Belgian line, to the canal which
runs along behind them to Pope
ringle, it would have had a very
great effect on the situation as a
whole, for it would have turned the
whole line of hills which the Brit
ish are defending and have got be-
hind the British lines. In this at
tack, which was made by no less
than four divisions, the outer front
OF the offensive zone was entered
oy the enemy in the early morning.
The counter attack launched by the
belgians little before noon COM
pletely restored the line, and re-
suited in the capture of 760 un-
wounded German soldiers. Because
OF the interest attaching to the
larger operations to the south, this
very considerable local success has
not been specially noticed. One has
but to look at the map to see what
a vast difference an opposite con-
clusion to the affair would have
made.
To return to the great battle Of
New-York tribune., 1918-04-28

Bloody Repulses Leave British
Line Unbroken Despite
Fall of MeSSines
BY HILAIRE BELLOC

Author of the War Btain Most
Military Critic
New-York tribune., 1918-04-28

hundred yards Of open ground to
be crossed. but it was upon the ex-
traordinarily heavy losses which
the Germans suffered in their at
tempt to cross this very narrow
belt that the result turned.
The Redwood gazette., 1918-05-08
SeafOrth Sale !
Comes Next
SATURDAY, MAY IL, DAY OF BIG
SALE FOR RED CROSS AT
SEAFORTH VILLAGE

Next Saturday, May II, the Sea-
forth community expects to put
across one of the biggest Red Cross
sales yet held in Redwood County
and asks the attendance and patron
age of residents from other sections
Of the county.
A patriotic talk will be given Sat-
urday morning at ten-thirty o'clock
by Rev. B. Holt of Redwood Falls who
has made series of excellent talks
for Red Cross work since the start
ing of active work about year ago.
Following Mr.. Holt's talk the "big
show" will begin with D. L. Grim
minis of Redwood Falls as ringmast-
er. If Mr.. Crimmins duplicates the
record made at the Wabasso, the
Seaforth Red Cross will be the richer
by several thousand dollars. Many
articles Of considerable value have
already been donated for the sale
and the soliciting committee is con-
fident that the sale will be one we'll
worth attending. The ladies of Sea-
forth will serve lunch throughout the
day and there will be a Red Cross
benefit dance in the evening. All
residents who can possibly do so are
urged to attend this sale and the
dance.
The Redwood gazette., 1918-05-08
LETS HAVE
BIG HONOR
FLAG SERVICE

Redwood Falls has won the star
on her honor flag, showing that she
doubled her quota in the Third Lib
erty Loan Sale. Delhi village has
also won the star and every other
assessment district in the Redwood
Falls, Bond district has won the hon.
or flag itself, as has probably every
other district in the county.
Now why should not Redwood Falls
and the other precincts of this dist
rict, which includes Homer, Redwood
Falls, Delhi and Paxton townships,
have a mass meeting to celebrate
this event of which every resident
Of the community has a right to be
proud? The honor flag is worthy Of
a fitting ceremony of presentation to
every precinct winning one and the
Redwood Falls Armory offers a splen-
did place for the holding of joint
meeting Of all the precincts in the
district.
An appropriate service could be
easily planned and such q meeting
should be Of the keenest interest 70
every person in the community. The
dAgs will be ready for delivery as
soon as the complete report of the
bond sale is finished and this meet
ing could Be held #ithinsa short time.
af. -
The Redwood gazette., 1918-05-08
WabassO Sale
Is Best Yet
REDWOOD COUNTY VILLAGE
EARNS 100000 FOR WORK
OF RED CRSOS

Wabasso went over the top glori-
ously last Friday, in her effort to
earn large sum of money for the
carrying on Of the work of the Red
Cross, the net proceeds of the day
and evening being 100000, the most
earned by any similar event held
throughout the county thus far.
Of this amount $6,10000 was net
ted from the sale of goods donated
for that purpose and from donations
of money made during the day. Some
very valuable articles were purchased,
many of them bringing good prices
and being resold several times. D.
L. Crimmins of Redwood Falls was
the auctioneer and did splendid work.
Along with the sale there was the
serving of lunches by the Red Cross
women throughout the day, very
successful selling of tags, little red
crosses of wood being furnished for
this purpose by H. w. Shoemaker,
and dance in the evening. Twenty
cars from Redwood Falls carried over
the people from here who attended
the dance. The entire day was most
successful and is credit to the
promoters of good cause.
The Redwood gazette., 1918-05-08
New Banking
Building Opens
FARMERS STATE BANK INVITES
PUBLIC TO ATTEND OPENING
OF NEW QUARTERS

Officers and directors of the Farm
ers State Bank of Redwood Falls are.
extending a cordial invitation to the
public to come to the new bank build
ing next Friday, May 10, either in
the day time or in the evening, and
to inspect the new building which
will be opened that day for the first
time. The finishing touches are now
being put on the interior of the build
ing which is one of the most modern
and well-equipped as well as at
tractive buildings in this section of
the state. During the afternoon and
evening of the opening day there
will be music and each visitor will
be presented with souvenir.
The new building is well located on
the corner lot Of Third and Main
Streets, on the site formerly used as
a city park The structure is thirty
by seventy feet, of freproof construc-
tion throughout, and most attractive
in appearance, being constructed of
high class brick with base of Kasota
stone and trimming Of light stone.
The structure is two stories high
with full basement, the large front
room Of the basement, which is well
lighted and pleasant, is to be used
as general community or club room,
furnished rent free and equipped, at
the expense of the bank with SUBJ
stantial tables, chairs, etc. This room
is accessible from the entrance on
Third Street without going through
the bank proper and is designed by
the bank as a community feature
which should prove of great benefit.
The entrance on Main Street leads
into a well lighted, spacious and well
equipped banking department, most
attractively decorated and with a
simple beauty quite in keeping with
the classic appearance of the exter-
ior. Floors in the banking depart
ment are of terrazo, the woodwork of
The Redwood gazette., 1918-05-08
L. C. STUART,
Cashier.

fumed oak and the interior windows a
most attractive combination Of stained
glass and ground glass. The walls
are beautifully decorated and the
whole presents a most attractive ap-
pearance as the visitor enters. The
simplicity of line and the perfect
blending of colors adds greatly to
the attractiveness.
The banking rooms consist of a
commodious lobby, an Office, with a
smaller private Office adjoining, a
large cashiers Office and patrons
handy room at the rear of the Of
fee. This handy room, which has
been especially arranged for the con-
venience and comfort of the clientle
Of the bank, is well equipped with
tables and chairs and communicates
with the vault so that each patron
may have access to his safety depo-
sit box at his own pleasure without
interference with the bank proper.
The cashiers office also communicates
with large vault in which the solid
steel safe, which has attracted con-
siderable attention for the past sew
eral months, forms part of the
equipment.
ne rear OF Tie LldlH HOOT Is Oc-
cupied by very pleasant office suite
which may be leased or may be used
by the bank as it continues to grow.
The second floor is devoted entirely
to office suites, four sets of rooms,
we'll arranged and lighted and exqui-
sitely finished, being at the disposal
of the various professions of the city.
One, of these suites was to have been
occupied by DIR. McPheeters who re-
Gently left Redwood Falls for mill
tary service, one is leased to DR.. j.
w. Inglis. another to DR.. G. A. Alex
ander and the other has not yet been
leased.
There are many modern and con-
venient features of the bank beside
those mentioned and visitors there
Friday will be shown a very model
and complete building which will be
used by the promoters of the bust
ness for the purpose of offering the
best in banking service to the COM
munity. Redwood Falls now has three
banking institutions, each of them
distinct credit to the town and each
of them a most helpful feature IN
the growth of the community in which
! they are operating.
The Redwood gazette., 1918-05-08
Senior Class
Presents Play
@GREEN STOCKINGS" GIVEN BY
STUDENT CAST AT ARMORY
FRIDAY EVENING

Suppose you were the eldest Of
four sisters, that you had already
passed "the first bloom of YOUTH"
that you had worn green stockings
at the weddings of two of those sis
ters, that the bird and youngest an
nounced her engagement which would
mean that you should have to wear
them the third time, just supposing
what would you do? Well, that's
the situation that Celia faces at the
opening of the Senior class play,
"Green Stockings which is to be
presented at the Armory next Fri
day evening, May 10. And Celia de-
cides upon very radical course Of
action to avoid the embarrassment
of wearing. the green stockings-she
just naturally announces her own en-
gagement to Colonel Smith of the
West African Rifer. That is she
"invents" the Colonel but her en-
gagement satisfies the family. Then
complications set in.
After ''eight brief months of the
most perfect understanding" Celia
decides "to kill off the Colonel and
go to Chicago with her aunt Ida. But
on the very day on which the an
nouncement of the Colonels "death"
is published in the Times, he ap-
pears, alias Colonel Vavasour, to
hiring Smiths dying message to &C.
liza. From then on the situation is
intense. Aunt Ida who has been a
"brick" to Celia through it all, en-
livens the assembled sympathizers by
a protracted fit of Mysteries, while
Celia puts on a bold front and de-
termines not to let the news make
a ssbit of difference" with her. Col
onel Vavasour remains to "deliver
his message, and-but to appreciate
the play you must see it on the stage
next Friday.
The leading character, Celia, is
supported by an able group of play
ers, including her three selfish sis
ters. her rugged and outspoken faith
er. VIM. Faraday, Admiral Grice, an
old seadog, devoted to Celia, Phyllis
darling Bobby Tarver," ''legion Of
suitors" and Martin, the staid old
family servant. Colonel Smith.-Vava-
sour, with his 'last dying message
adds a touch of romance, The play
is a clean and wholesome comedy
lIOul UcSl lIlIllIlS W Suu Will Soii-
slant run of laughs for the audience
The cast Of characters follows:
VIM. Faraday. ........ Leon Lusche1
Celia Farady. Esther Goudy
Madge-Celia's married sister. ....
Esther Davis
Evelyn-Celia's married sister .....
................ Bernice Parker
Phyllis-Engaged to Tarver. J.
Betty Hunter
Aunt Ida-Celia's Aunt .........
........ Margaret McNaughton
Admiral Grice-Devoted to Celia. >.
JOnn MurSet
Richard Tarver-Engaged to Phyllis
Arthur Kumm
James Raleigh-Celia's suitor.
Clemens Hillig
Richard Steele-Celia's suitor>...
................. John Blake
Colonel Smith. -. Douglas Warner
Martin-Butler -. Nealis Smith
Tickets will be on sale at Lauter-
bach Bros. on Thursday morning,
May 9. Admission 35c and Soc