Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1918-04-19
BRITISH RETAKE
TOWNS FROM HUNS,
THEN LOSE THEM
Haiu Retires Only After Heavy
Counter-Attacks.
ENEMYS GAINS ARE COSTLY
French Forces Are Now Reinforcing
the Enelish-eermans Claim Cap.
ture of PoeIeapeIle and
Langemarcke.

London, Arvil 1S-The British OIL
ciaI report says French troops are now
reinforcing the British on the Wyt-
schaete-M eteren front
British Win, TIen Lose, Towns.
Ont of the chaos of the tremendous
battle along the Lys river, south and
southwest of Ypres, the thunder of
which may he heard forty or fifty
miles away, there have come during
the past day reports which are more
encouraging to the allied powers.
The British not only have held all
The ground which they were defending
on Tuesday but have struck back 50
powerfully that Meteren and part of
Wytschaete were retaken and held for
time. Only after heavy attacks did
the British retire again from the VIII
lagos.
Huns Claim Two Towns.
The most disturbing news has been
a 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.
Extent of Withdrawal.
Just how far the British lines have
been withdrawn is not known. II may
be. however, that the German claim of
taking Poelcapelle and Langemarck
was the result of the British retire
ment.
There have been reports that the
Germans have occupied the village of
st. Eloi, which lies less than three
miles south OF Ypres, but these have
not been confirmed. Ii also was said
that they have taken positions on the
south slope Of Mt KENNEL, which Is
about two and a half miles north of
Wulverghem.
British Defense Solid.
on all the rest Of the front from
AIessines ridge southwestward the
Germans have flung themselves
against tie granite wall Of the British
defense. Official and semi-oflical dis
patches have told Of the frightful
losses inflicted on the attacking
masses of troops by the British rifle
and maclflne gun fire.
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 enemy.
Hun Losses Enormous.
In the morning intense lombard
ments were opened by the enemy on
practically the whole of the Lys battle
front, and from the forest of Nieope
to Wytschaete were followed by in
fantry attacks. All these attacks have
been repulsed and considerable losses
inflicted ON the enemy,
I'm counter-attacks, reported in the
morning communique, our troops sue
eceded in entering the villages of Me-
feren and Wetschaete, but. in the face
oi continued hostile attacks, were un-
able to maintain their positions there.
French troops are cooperating
with the British ON this front,
The statement follows
successful coupter-attack in the neigh
borhood of Wytschaete. At Meteren
also our counter-attack restored the
situation and the village remains in
our hands. Throughout the after
noon and evening yesterday repeated
hostile attacks north of Bailleul were
repulsed with loss to the enemy.
81 81.
in close formation were caught under
the fire of our troops mt short range
and suffered heavy casualties. We Sc
cured few prisoners"
Shatter Hun Advance.
The enemy also endeavored to de-
velop an attack yesterday afternoon
east of Robecqu following the bonn
bardment already reported. hut his
advance was broken up by our artil.
lery fire.
In consequence of the progress
made by the enemy on the I-ys front
our troops holding our forward posi-.
itions east of Ypres have been with
drawn to new line. The withdrawal
was carried out deliberately, without
interference by the enemy Yesterday
afternoon parties of his troops adj
vancing over our old positions were
caught by the fire Of our outposts and
destroyed
Win South Of Arras.
ION the battle front south of Arras
parties Of German infangry who had
entered our trenches opposite 30.
yeles We're driven out yesterday aft
ernoon with Ihe loss of several pris.
loners. Our line in this locality has