Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-04-13
ENEMY BLOW
IS BELIEVED
WEARING0UT
German Drive Against
British Losing Force
News Indicates.
fRv Associated Press. J

Indications that the German drive
in the Armentieres region is losing
some of its force are contained in
today's official news from the bat
tie.
In the Flanders fighting the Ger
mans apparently are making their
strongest effort in their drive for
Bailleul, the important railway
point northwest OF Armentieres,
feeding the Messines ridge section.
The heaviest fighting last night in
this region seems to have been In
the Neuve Eglise Wulverghem sec
tor, between Bailleul and Messines,
the Germans directing their thrust
here instead OF directly below Bail
leul and to the southwest of II, as
was indicted yesterday This en-
gagement was still in progress at a
late hour last night.
London, April 13.-The Germans
made an attack last night west of
Merville, on the northern battle
front, and were repulsed, the war
Office announces.
The British advanced their line
slightly in the neigb5orhood OF
Festubert and took a few prisoners.
There was heavy fighting last
evening near Neuve Eglise and
Wulverghem and the battle here
was still in progress at late hour
last night.
Huns Elected.
Strong enemy forces launched an
attack early last night east of Lo-
con and succeeded in entering the
British lines at certZln points, but
was elected by a counterattack. A
second attack attempted later in
the night at the same place, was
beaten off.
In the sector south OF the Somme
British and French troops by coun-
terattacks drove out the Germans
from Hangard which they pene-
trated yesterday.
Official Report
The statement follows:
Heavy fighting developed yester-
day evening in the nelghborhood OF
Neuve Eglise and Wulverghem and
at late hour last night was still
, continuing.
early in the night strong hostile
attack preceded by a heavy bonn
bardment was launched against our
positions east of LOGON. The enemy
succeeded in entering our lines at
certain points but was driven out
again by a counter attack and a
second attack attempted by the en-
emy later in the night in the same
locality was successfully beaten off.
During the early part of the night
the enemy attacked west of Mer-
Vile and was repulsed. On the re-
mainder OF the northern battle
front the situation is unchanged.
Fighting Is Sharp.
SHARP local fighting took place
yesterday south of the Somme in
he neighborhood of Hangard, and
positions into which the enemy had
forced his way were regained by
counterattacks delivered by the
British and French trops. North OF
the Somme the enemy's artillery
has been more active"
0bjectiyes Unattained.
With the British Army in France.
Friday, April IL (By the Associated
Press the exception OF Mer-
vile, the Germans thus far have
not reached their objectives in part
for the present drive north and
south OF Armentieres but today's
developments indicated that the
enemy had no intention of abandon
ing the assault Immediately. A
captured German document reveals
that there were to be three smashes
on the front north and south OF
Armentieres. One had Bailleul as
its main objective. the other Mer-
Vile and Aire and the third Be
thune.
Not less than 2S divisions had
been employed by the enemy in this
pretentious program which has
meant that at some places the
British have been very heavily out
numbered. A German division ag-
gregates 1900 to $4,000 men in
cluding 1900 rifles.
Anxious to Take Aire.
ST. Venant, between Merville and
Aire, was being heavily attacked
today by strong forces OF Germans
after their success OF last night
which gave them possession OF Mer-
Vile. The enemy seems desirous
of reaching Aire, a railway center.
and were throwing large numbers
Of troops into the conflict I'm an at
tempt TO drive the British back.
The German threat in this direction
Continued On Page Three.)