The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-05-02
BRITISH GIVE Way
BEFORE GERMANS
Huns Succeed in Relaxing the
Greater Part of Famous
Messines Ridge.
YPRES is THREATENED NOW
Hindenburg Holds Commanding Posi-
tons and May Force Retirement
OF General Haig's Tired Men.

Washington, April 17.-Germany's
mighty effort on the battle field of
Flanders has won new successes. Ac-
cording to the latest reports, the i'm
portant strategic towns of BaiIleuI,
| WulYerghem and Wytschaete are in
German hands, and, more important
still, the Teutons have carried q large
part Of Messines Ridge by storm.
Probably there has been no mere
bitter struggle in the war than that
waged along the battle line through
the towns of BaiIIeul, Neuve Eglise,
Wulverghem and Wytschaete. Neuve
Eglise was taken Monday, but Bail
leul held out until fresh masses of
German troops were hurled into the
| fray and charged repeatedly on the
tired defenders. The same story might
be told of Wulverghem and Wyt-
/ schaete, while the battle for Messines
Ridge must have been frightful in its
| intensity.
Seek to Widen Salient.
The Germans have not attempted TO
| advance their wedge further into the
British lines, for no new attacks on
/ MerviIle and further west have been
reported. They have devoted their
/ sole attention to the work OF widen
ing out the salient and striking at
Messines Ridge, and the railroad run
ming about six miles north of Bailleul.
| Messines Ridge is the key to the Ypres
| sector and its possession will give the
Germans a commanding potion in
starting a new drive.
The successes of the Germans in
the last day have an important bear
| ing on the campaign on the northern
battle front. If they are continued,
there must be a British retirement
from Ypres and possibly for some dis
lance further north, while the cut
ting of the railroad passing through
! Hazebrouck would be still more sert-
Gus for the British.
British Must Counter Attack.
So important are the points won by
the Germans that the British must be
expected to counter attack at once in
an effort to sweep the invaders hack
into the lowlands once more. All ac-
counts of the battle along this line
speak of the small British forces which
attempted to withstand the attacks
by heavy legions Of Teutons, which
were brought up fresh for the assault.
Battles Bitterly Fought
Washington, April 16.-Seven days
after the Germans launched their gi-
gantic assault against the British lines
between Lens and Ypres the momen-
tum of their attack has been broken
and waves of the Teuton forces are
recoiIing before the rock of the Brit
ish defense. While the Germans have
made gains Of ground and have driven
a wedge into the allied lines to a con-
siderable depth they seem to have fail
ed in their attempt to break through
or take important railway functions.
In the last day there have been bit
terly fought engagements at four
places, all on the northern side Of the
salient to the south of Ypres. Seven
assaults against the British trenches
at Meryille near the apex of the Ti-
angular dent in the British line have
been hurled back by the British.
May Try New Drive.
It has been the German plan of cam
paign since March 81, when the great
| offensive started, to strike hard at
some particular sector, and If that
blow was paTried, to turn powerfully
against some new point. This proceed
ure probably will be followed in the
next few days by a new assault some
where south of ATTas. An attack north
of Ypres is hardly possible, for the
lowlands Of Belgium are as yet too
waterlogged to permit active opera
lions. An attack on Arras would en-
tail the hurting OF troops against
Vimy Ridge, the Labyrinth and other
formidable military works protecting
that city.
Huge German Losses.
It may be that the savage fighting
reported at Hangard-En-Santerre,
south of Albert and on the center Of
the line facing Amiens, may mark the
beginning of a new attempt to sweep
westward toward Amiens. So far the
fighting has brought the Germans only
| losses in men and ground. Further
south near Montdidier there has been
| intense artillery firing, but the Ger
mans have not attempted infantry
operations in this important sector.