The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-04-29
ALLIES FACE
CRUCIAL TEST
IN FIGHTING
IN FLANDERS
Enemy Launches General
Assault on British Hill Posi-
tions on KENNEL Front,
Southwest of Ypres..
HILL IS LOST
(By Associated Press)

NDy ASSOCidleO fTCSSJ
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE, April 29.-The fourth Ger
man army this morning heavily at
| tackled the allied front in Flanders
Prisoners captured have admitted that
the German intention is to attempt to
capture Ypres. Severe fighting is re-
ported in both the British and French
, areas. The attack extends over a
front of about Is miles.
The Belgians ON the User front also
reported to have been attacked.
The Germans today began what
seems to be general assault on the
| British hill positions on the KENNEL
front, southwest of Ypres, opening a
new phase of the great drive in Flan-
ders. Apparently the crucial test of
the allied holding power in this area
is at hand.
The preliminary bombardment.
started in the early morning, took in
10-mile front from Meteren, west Of
Bailleul, to Zoormezeele, two miles
south of Ypres. Infantry attacks in
this area developed shortly afterward
and the battle appears to have been
on in earnest when Field Marshal
Haig's report was issued in London
at noon.
The enemy has been striking with
great fury at Zoormezeele from the
last two or three days, evidently hop
ing to drive in behind Ypres and
break up the orderly withdrawal of
the British from the further portions
of the Ypres salient which have been
evacuating.
Hills Are obJeetives.
Further attacks in the Zoormezeele
sector may accompany the delivery
of today's blow, but the greatest
force of this thrust seems likely to
manifest itself in the vicinity OF Locre
where several hills are the enemy OBJ
jectives.
Probably to mask their real purpose
| the Germans last night heavily bonn
barded the southern portion OF the
Lys battle front from Givenchy to
Nieppe wood, and likewise turned
their artillery loose on the front be-
tween Lens and Arras, further south.
No infantry attacks have been re-
ported in these sectors except on the
part of the British, who by a success
full coup recaptured the post taken
from them last week near Festuburt
north of Givenchy.
British Lose Hill 60.
AS in the case of the last previous
heavy assaults in Flanders the Ger
mans have also been demonstrating
on the Somme front also not in such
force as was the case last week.
They drove several times last night
however and heavily bombed this Sec
at the French position in Hangre wood
ton north of Villers-Bretonneux. The
infantry attacks were broken up by
the French fire and the allied artil-
lery vigorously answered the German
guns in this region and between Las
signy and Noyon, on the lower side OF
the Montdidier salient.
Northeast and east OF Ypres. Field
Marshal Haig has withdrawn his
lines to Verlorenhoek and Hooge and
has given up famous hill go, south OF
Ypres. On the south the British hold
Vormezelle after two days Of the
most bitter fighting, so that the Ger
mans are still two miles from ruined
Ypres, which is being bombarded
violently, especially with gas shells.
From Vormezeele westward there
has been no fighting as was witness
ed in The last week exceeded around
Locre, where the French have been
stoutly withstanding the enemy. A
foothold was gained in Locre Satur-
day by the enemy and they are report
ed making ready for another effort to
drive the French northward: Locre
and the road running northward sep
arate Schaerpenberg from Mont
Rouge. These two heights are links
in the chain of hills running west
ward from Mont KENNEL and the
German purpose evidently is to drive
the French before them and take the
elevations by flank movement
In Picardy there has been no ac-
tivity except by the artillery. the Ger
man cannon being very active on the
front east of Amiens from Villers-
Bretonneux to the Luce river.