Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-03
Allies Victorious in Local
Fighting, Pending a Renewal
of Grand Offensive.
AMERICANS TAKING PART
IN THE AIR OPERATIONS
Germans Lose Ayette, Which They
Sacrificed Large Numbers Of
Men to Capture.
By the Associated Press.

| By the Associated Press.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE, April 3.-The British last
night stormed and captured strong
German point south of Hebuterne, which
menaced the defending positions.
The recapture Of Ayette, south Of Ar
ras, by the British is the most important
news from the. northern battle front
reported thus far today. The Ayette
sector has been one Of the most fercely
contested zones. The Germans have sac
rifced great numbers Of troops in an
effort to secure firm hold here.
Americans in the Fighting.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. April "A considerable num-
Der of American aviation mechanics
now are cooperating with the British
Royal Flying Corps on the battlefield
in Picardy.
A certain number were within an air.
drome west of Peronne when 1t was
bombed heavily by the. Germans. The
Americans are part Of the forces trained
in England.
British Again Hold Ayette.
LONDON. April s.-British troops. aft
er sharp fighting last night, repulsed a
determined attack by the Germans in
the e-neighborhood of Fampoux, the war
office announced today
The town of Ayette tabout eight miles
southwest OF Arras) is again In British
possession. the statement announces
The statement reads:
AT dawn yesterday determined at
tack made by strong party OF the
enemy against our position in the
nefghborhood Of Fampoux was repulsed
man dead and fsw prisoners wore
left in our hands.
Prisoners Taken by British.
"A successful local operation was un-
dertaken by us last night In the neigh
borhood Of Ayette. which is now In our
possession. Over 100 prisoners and
three machine guns were captured by
us.
'sWe secured a few prisoners yester-
day through the enterprise in the
neighborhood of Serre, already report
ed.
,.,, There ere is is M, nothing further to report
Iincolnshfre troops raided the
enemy's trenches northeast of Loos yes-
terday morning and captured thirty -one
prisoners and machine gun. Another
successful raid. in which we captured a
few men. was carried out by us last
night northeast of Poelcappelle."
French Repu1se Attacks.
PARIS. April 3.-A German attack
south Of Migreui1 last night was re-
pulsed by the French fire, and the
enemy was unable to gain a footing
war Office announces, except at one
point. The French also broke IN a
German attack near Rollot and gained
ground north Of PIemont.
The statement follows:
"On the front between the Somme and
the Disc there was increasing activity
on the part of the artillery on both
sides. South of Moreuil the enemy
made a spirited attack against the
French positions between Morisel and
Mailly-Rameval. It was repulsed by
the French fire. and the enemy was not
able to gain a footing in the French
defenses. except at a single point.
Successful Local Operations.
"A German effort north of Rollot was
broken up Dy the ErenCh hre. Last
night the French carried out a local
operation on the slopes north of PIE
mont, in the course of which our troops
enlarged their position appreciably and
took sixty prisoners. There is nothing
to report from the remainder of the
front
"on March 81 and April 1 French
aerial squadrons threw down 10000
Kilograms (more than thirteen tons) of
projectiles on railways and canton
ments at Ham. Chauny. Ncyon, etc A
large fire was observed in the railway
station at Chaulnes. German canton
ments in the region of Roye were bonn
barded with many projectiles and at
tackled with machine guns from a low
elevation.
French pursuit planes were, engaged in
many fights in the course of which eight
German airplanes were brought down.
Tw6 others were put out of action"
Berlin Reports Are Brief.
BERLIN. via London. April 2-''Enemy
counter attacks near Habuterne and
against the heights captured by us be-
tween the Luce and the Avre," says the
report from general headquarters today.
'broke down with heavy losses"
The communication issued by the war
office this evening says; There is moth