Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-04-19
PRoeR REss OF THE FIGHTING
Bitter Struggle for Mastery in France
and Flanders.

Out Of the chaos Of the tremendous
battle along the Lys river, south and
southwest of Ypres, the thunder OF
which may be heard 40 or SO miles
away, there have come during the
past day reports which are more en-.
couraging to the Allied powers. The
British not only have held all the
ground which they were defending or
Tuesday, but have struck back 80 pow.
erfully that Meteren and part Of
Wyctschaete were retaken and helc
for time. Only after heavy attacks
did the British retire again from the
villages.
The most disturbing news has beer
q report from Berlin that Poelcapelle
and Langemarck, north OF Ypres
have been taken by the Germans and
the admission from London that the
British have retired from certain Of
their lines In the Ypres salient. The
retirement here was expected, for the
advance of the Germans at Neuve
Eglise and Bailleul left the positions
in front Of Ypres open to a flank at.
tack. II is officially stated that the
retirement was orderly and 1t Is PROP
able that 1t will have more OF sen.
timental than a strctegic effect JUS
how far the British lines have beer
withdrawn Is not known. It may be
however, that the German claim o.
taking Poelcapelle and Langemarch
was the result of the British retire.
ment.
The battle, now in its ninth day
has deepened in intensity at many
points along the curved front from
Messines ridge to Meteren. There
have been reports that the Germani
have Occupied the Village 81 81. EIof
which lies less than three miles soutf
Of Ypres, but these have not beer
confirmed. 1t also was said that the,
have taken positions on the soutf
slope of Mount KENNEL, which l.
about two and a half miles north o.
Wulverghem. This, also, has not beer
confirmed.
On all the rest of the front from
Messines ridge southwestward tht
Germans have flung themselye.
against the granite wall Of the British
defense. Official and semi Off cia
dispatches have told Of the frightfu
losses inflicted on the attackine
masses Of troops by the British rifit
and machine gun fire.
On the southern side Of the SALEM
there have been engagements o.
some magnitude. especially east o.
Robecq, Ave miles northwest o.
Bethune, where the Germans wer'
caught by the British artillery frt
and scattered.
The line in front Of Arras has agair
been the scene Of fighting, but here
the British took the offensive ant
drove the Germans out Of Britisf
trenches which had been carried b!
the enemy.
In the PIcardy sector there has beer
lively artillery engagements betweer
the Somme and Oise rivers, but onl!
patrol encounters are reported ofh
cially.
Further south only raiding opera
tions have been going on.
The Turks announce that they hay'
taken the city Of Batum, on th'
eastern shore of the Black sea- The!
report strenuous fighting before th'
Russian defenders Of the city wer'
driven out.
Baron stephen Burian Won Rajec:
has succeeded Count Czernin as for
eign minister Of Austria Hungary
coming back to the office he relin
1uished December %. 1916.
The Macedonian front has agar
become active. Greek and British
troops have advanced and driven th'
Teutonic allies from seven town.
along the Struma river, on the eastern
end Of the line. French forces hav'
also been active in this theater OF th'
war
Fifteen British merchantmen wer'
lost during the week from mines ol
submarines.