Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-04-18
British Not Only Hold Ground
They Defended Tuesday,
but Strike Back and Retake
Positions That Were Lost.
DISQUIETING Is NEWS
COMING FROM BERLIN
It Is Reported That PoeIcapeIIe
and langenarck, North of
Ypres, Have Been Occupied
by invading Hordes,

10y hoHNtho JOURNAL SPECIAL LEAeED WtREl
out Of the chaos of the tremendous
battle along the Lys river. south and
southwest of Ypres. the thunder of
which may be heard forty or fifty
miles away, there have come during
the past day reports which are en-
couraging to the allied powers.
The British not only have held all
the ground which they were defend
ing on Tuesday but have struck back
so powerfully that Meteren and Part
of Wyschaete were retaken and held
for a time Only after heavy attacks
did tho British retire again from the
villages.
The most disturbing news has been
report from Berlin that Poelcapelle
and Langemarck. north of Ypres. have
been taken by the Germans and the
admission from London that the Brit
ish have retired from certain of their
lines in the Ypres salient.
- f,,rs csfEeIIrsraK siess was szAs3ssgs al.
for the advance of the Germans AT
Neuve Eglise and Bailleul left the
positions in front of Ypres open to a
flank attack 1t is officially stated
that the retirement was orderly and
it is probable that it will have more
Of a sentimental than a strategic ef-
feet.
Just how far the British lines have
been Withdrawn is not known. II
may he, however, that the German
claim of taking Poelcapelle AMI
Langemarek, was the result of the
British retirement.
Deepcns In Intensity.
The battle, now in its ninth day, has
deepened in intensity at many points
along the curved front from Mes
sines ridge to Meteren. There have
been reports that the Germans have
occupied the village of St Elo, which
lies less than three miles south OF
Ypres. but these have not been con-
firmed. ....
1t is also said that they have taken
positions on the south slope of Mount
KENNEL, which is about two and q
half miles north of Wulverghem.
This, also, has not been confirmed.
On all the rest of the front from
Mossines ridge southwestward the
Germans have flung themselves
against the granite wall of the British
defense. Of'lial and semi-o..' .'icial
dispatches have told of the frightful
losses inflicted on the attacking mass
es of troops by the British rifle and
machine gun fire.
On the southern side Of the salient
there have been engagements of some
magnitude especially east of Robecq
five miles northwest of Bethune.
where the Germans were caught by
the British artillery fire and scattered.
Arras Scene Fighting.
The line in front of Arras has again
been the scene of fighting but here
the British took the offensive and
drove the Germans out of British
trenches which had been carried by
the emmy.
In the Picardy sector there has
ben lively artillery engagements be-
tween the Somme and Disc rivers, but
only patrol encounters are reported
officially.
Farther south only raiding opera
tions have been going on
The Turks announce that they have
taken the city of Batum, on the east.
shore of the Black sea. They report |
strenuous fighting before the Rus
sian defenders of the city were driven
out
Banor Stephen Burian Won Rajecz
has succeeded Count Czernin as for
eign minister of Austro-H Hungary,
coming back to the office he relln-
quished December 23, 1915.
Along Macedonian Front.
The Macedonian front has again !
become active. Greek and British |
troops have advanced and driven the
Tentonic allies from seven towns along |
the Struma river, on the eastern end |
of the line. French forces also have !
been active in this theater of the
war.