The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-04-16
(By Associated Pressl

(By Associated Press,
Tremendous pressure exerted by
picked fresh troops in the desperate
German efforts to drive the British
from Messines ridge has compelled a
slight retirement OF the British line on
the northern side of the Lys battle
front. The town of Bailleul has been
evacuated and the British front with
drawn to line running from north of
that town to the north of Wulzerghem
and thence to Wytschaete
Wytschaete occupies the highest
point of the easterly ridge and the
British have been firmly established
here since the early days of the enemy
offenses. The Germans, through their
push into the southwest, are now ap-
parently in more advantageous posi-
ton to attack 1t and their expected
drive upon it was reported developing
this morning. AS it forms the pivot
of the British line which bends here
to the north an extremely determined
defense of it is looked for from Field
Marshal Haig's troops.
Still Have Firm Hold.
Although the loss of Bailleul and
some of the comparatively high ground
around it represents a decided set
back for the defense. the British line
as it has been Withdrawn is still on
ground much higher than the Germans
occupy. The British artillery thus
possesses numerous vantage points
from which It can continue to pour In
devastating fire upon the attacking
columns Apparently Field Marshal
Haig's trops still have a firm hold on
all this valuable hill region.
What may be called the frontal at
tack of the Germans upon the ridge
system back of Messines. Mytschaete
and Hollebeke furnished the spect.cu-
lar feature of the operations are re-
flected in today's news. One brief
paragraph in Field Marshal Haig's re-
report, however, has an importance at
tached to it that should not be over
looked. 1t reports the repulse of
heavy German attacks southwest Of
Vieux Bertuin. It is by push to the
northwest in this region that the
enemy hopes to reach HaZbrouk, some
five miles distant and take this highly
important railway town. Well-nigh
vital rail communication to the Mes
sines and Ypres regions would thus be
cut The thanking movement shows no
signs of making progress.
Sink 10 Hun TrawIers.
The German effort at present seems
centered upon the northern side of the
Lys battlefield, no important fighting
being reported from the southern sec
tor.
In view of the recent rumors of pos
sible naval activities by the Germans
to accompany their land offenses the
news from London today showing that
British naval forces have been operat-
ing in the Cattegat and have sunk 10
German trawlers there is significant.
Still more significant seems the
form of the British announcement
which comes in a report from Vice
Admiral Sir David Beatty, chief COM
mander OF the grand fleet. This would
appear to indicate that the grand fleet
is out and possibly presages most i'm
portant naval developments.
May Start New Drive.
British resistance having stiffened,
and hav;sy held the Germans to small
gains in tie past three days the bat
tie west of Armentierres has reached
stage of massed local attacks to gain
a desired objective.
i
Germans will start drive on the
southern side of the new salient in
an effort to reach Bethune. The en-
emy artillery fire along a ten mile
front from Robecq to Givenchy is in
creasing in intensity and large bod
les OF troops have been discovered
behind the German lines. The Brit
ish line here is about one mile north
and parallel to the LaBasse canal
Givenchy, held by the British has not
been attacked since the repulse of
strong enemy efforts last week.
In the drive of Picardy the often
sive in Artois has won its object in
the first week. The capture of Neuve
Eglise, four miles west of Bailleul
was a strategic gain for them.
Around Wulzerghem, between Neu-
We Eglise and the Messines ridge
heavy fighting also is going on. The
[continued On Page Ten.