New-York tribune., 1918-03-09
Germans Drive
AT Ypres, but
Lose Ground
Attack Heavily on Mile
Front in Flanders With
Flaming Liquid

LONDON, March S.-The Germans at
dawn to-day delivered a powerful at
tack against the British lines on a
front of more than mile north of
Ypres After heavy fighting, in which
the British temporarily lost part of
their advanced rositions, the Germans
were hurled back a distance of 800
yards beyond their original lines and
the British positions were completely
reestablished, Field Marshal Haig re-
ported tonight.
The assault, preceded by violent ar
tillery fire, spread over wide front
Immediately south of Houtholst Forest,
scene of both British and French sue
cesses in the Flanders offensive last
summer. Rifle and machine gun fire
checked the advancing columns along
the major part of the front, but with
the aid of flame throwers the Germans
succeeded in thrusting into the British
outposts on the left flank for distance
of third of mile
Severe fighting continued throughout
the morning, at the conclusion of which
the Yorkshire Light Infantry launched
a counter attack, which succeeded in re-
establishing the British line and fore
ing the enemy behind his former front.
The German losses in this action. the
heaviest of the year in Flanders, were
very heavy, Haig reports, while the
British suffered only lightly.
This action followed strong raid
by German forces in the region Of
NeuVe Chapelle Yesterday morning, de-
livered under cover of a dense fog and
supported by heavy artillery fire. At
one point northwest of La Bassee the
attackers managed to penetrate into the
British positions and capture some
prisoners, but everywhere else, Field
Marshal Haig reports tonight, they
were repulsed with severe losses.
Interest attaches to this action
chiefly because of the inactivity which
has prevailed on this part of the front
for many months. Neuve Chapelle, the
scene of the costly and futile British
attempt to break through the enemy's
II,
1915 lies midway between Lens and
Armentieres, on the rim of the salient
which dips westward through this /
region Except for sporadic raids near
La Bassee, there has been no note
worthy fighting in this sector since the |
conclusion of the battle of Arras.
Tie present activity Of the Germans
may indicate an intention on their
part to test the strength of the Brit
ish defcnces at this point with an at
tack in large scale, as some military
observers still hold that Hindenburg's 1
plan is to strike at the British rather
than at the Frerch
German reconnoitrlng PARTIES were
exceptionally active in Upper Flanders
also to-day, capturing thirty Belgians
and twentythree British prisoners in
the flooded region of the User, near
Merckem, according to the Berlin
communicate.
along the folded region of the User,
captured thirty Belgians and twenty
-hrce British soldiers, the Berlin state
nent says. In thrust east of Laneu-
seillc, on the Aisne front near Berry
au-B Bac, German storming detachments
brought back French captives.
Extensive aerial operations were con-
lucted by the French fliers on Wednes-
lay, Paris reports, four enemy planes
3cing brought to earth and more than
thirteen tons Of explosives being drop
bed on railway stations and munitions
lepots in The territory held by the Ger
mans,