Le MeschaceÌbeÌ. [volume] ([Lucy] La.) 1853-1942, 1918-04-27
AMERICANS DEFEAT
GERMANS IN FIGHT
AN ATTEMPT TO DRIVE WEDGE
BETWEEN AMERICANS AND
FRENCH FAILED.
HOSPITALS CROWDED
Schools, Church, Monasteries and Pri-
Vate Houses in Belgium Are Filled
With German Wounded.
Other Fronts.

The German high command, having
been unsuccessful in piercing the
British front in Flanders and separat
ing the British and French armies
has essayed a stroke against the
Americans and the French northwest
of Toul, and here also Teuton strategy
has failed utterly to bring its plans
to fruition.
Although the Germans attacked in
waves with greatly superior numbers
of men, the Americans and French
men have held all their positions and
inflicted heavy losses on the enemy
What gains were made in the initial
trieved and the American and French
lines restored
The latest Berlin official communi-
cation asserted that in the drive 1873
American prisoners and twenty-five
machine guns were captured by the
Germans, who cut their way for about
a mile and quarter into the Ameri-
can lines at Seicheprey. There has
been no confirmation of this statement
or the added claim that the Ameri-
cans sustained heavy casualties.
1t seems evident, however, that the
fight was a bitter one and that it
was the ambition of the specially
trained Germans to crush the Ameri-
cans. Everything the enemy had in
stock was brought into play in the
fighting, which lasted from Saturday
well into Sunday Shells of all cali
bers, including gas missiles, were used
prodigiously. but the Americans, not
withstanding this cannonading and
the greatly superior infantry forces
arrayed against them, fought tenac-
iously and gave ground by inches and
then only when they had exacted a tre-
mendous payment for it in German
killed or wounded.
Although the enemy was able to
reach the sheIl-torn village of Seiche-
prey, the Americans rallied and in
bloody hand-to-hand fighting reversed
the situation and regained the town.
Likewise all the terrain which the
French in this region were forced to
give up temporarily now has been re-
taken. The German official commu-
nieation, in what seemingly is half
hearted admission that the attack was
repulsed and that the Germans lost
what they had gained, says the Ger
mans, 'after the destruction of the
enemy works, returned to their lines
OF departure"
Just what the Germans are planning
for the future on the long line north
ward from La Bassee to Ypres, where
everywhere they have met during the
last week with a stone wall Of resist
ance, has not yet become apparent
Nowhere have they thrown down the
gauntlet and offered further battle
against the stanch line that is facing
them. They have, however, on nu-
merous sectors carried out violent
bombardments, but in these they have
been answered shot for shot. The only
fighting in which the men OF either
side left their trenches was near
Robecq, northwest of La Bassee,
where Field Marshal Haig's men threw
out the enemy from several advanced
positions.
Evidences of the losses the Ger
mans have sustained in the new often
sive daily are becoming more appar-
ent. In addition to the reports of the
numerous dead which strew the battle
fields, advices coming through Hol-
land are to the effect that hospitals,
converts and schools in
are filled to overfIowing with
wounded and that even private houses
are being requisitioned for use as hos
pitals. Cattle cars in which hay is
the only bedding are being used to
transport manned men from the bat
lie front.
That q great sea battle is in pros
oect at an early date seems probable. |
Following up their recent foray into
he Cattegat, where they destroyed |
German traw1ers, British naval forces
lave penetrated into HeIgoland Blight
md offered battle to the German war
hips, which retired behind the mine
ields. The British opened fire on
he Germans at long range and one
i the enemy destroyers was hit.
British and French troops, have
anded on the Kola Peninsula project
ng into the Arctic Ocean and are Co
'perating with the bolshevikf troops
o protect the Mourman coast against
he Finnish white guard. This opera
ion probably has in view the safe
luarding Of Archangel. Russia's princi-
al port on the Arctic.