Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1918-05-02
STRIKE HARD BLOW
.yPRES SECTION.
ALLIED LINE Is STILL INTACT
ENEMY's LOSSES MOUNT.
ING HIGHER.
LINES ARE VERY STRONG
Germany Has Presented Virtual Ult,
matum to Russia, Threatening
to Take Petrosrad.

Germanys armies are hurting them
selves against a granite wall on three
sides OF the ruined city of Ypres. Aft.
er fighting OF the most terrific nature.
the British and French lines are still
intact and the enemy has lost terribly
In his repeated assaults against the
lines where the allies stand at bay.
The objective Of the fighting that
now is going on is the capture of
Ypres, where since 1914 the British
have held their positions. Two years
ago the allied lines were carried for
ward and the salient in front of the
city was wiped out, but from these
positions the British retired a week
ago to the trenches where they stood
during Inc terrific fighting in the
spring OF 1915, when they stopped the
Germans in their first drive for the
channel ports.
The present battle opened with \
bombardment OF the British and
French lines from Meteren and Voor-
mezeele, distance OF IL miles. Then
came reports Of spread OF the fight
ing around the curve in the line in
front OF Ypres until the Belgian ar
mics. north OF the city were involved
Field Marshal Haig's official report.
anxiously awaited, brought the news
that the utmost efforts OF the Germans
had been fruitless all along the line
The field marshal's statement said
that the Teutons had paid great
price and had gained virtually moth.
ing.
The battle still continues along the
trent, but there is little indication that
an immediate withdrawal from Ypres
Is contemplated by the allies, at least
until they have exacted from the en-
emy great sacrifice of human lives.
The only point at which the Ger.
mans made any gains was on the hilly
sector OF the front back OF KENNEL
hill, where the French are standing.
AT some points the enemy was able
from the greater part Of these they
were driven out by the French who
re-established their defenses.
Frontal attacks on Ypres would
seem to indicate that there Is little
confidence in the German general
staff that the Ypres positions can be
outfianked from the south. The lines
as they stand today are very strong
and withstood the onset OF the Ger
mans in 1914 when the Teuton EN-.
peror's army was much different
machine than 1t is today.
Repuise Means Much.
The bloody repulse of the Germans
In their great plunge forward will
mean much in further operations in
that sector OF the battle line.
While the struggle was going on
before Ypres, the British positions
from LaBasse to Houtholst wood. and
from Lens to Vimy were deluged with
shells but so far there has been no
infantry fighting reported from that
part OF the front. An attack on this
salient in the German lines Is expect.
ed soon. however. for 1t stands as a
constant menace to a further advance
by the enemy.
Along the front in the Somme sec.
tor, part OF which is being held by
Americans, there has been little fight
ing OF note. Further south there have
been only patrol encounters.
Germany has presented virtual
ultimatum to Russia, demanding that
able-bodied German prisoners OF war
be sent home at once. proposing, in
return that only sick and incapacitat-
ed Russians held in German prison
camps shall be turned over in ex-
change. II the Russian government
does not bow to the demand, Germany
has threatened to take Petrograd A
committee OF 115 Germans has been
appointed to go to the Russian capital
to present the demand.