Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-17
CARRY LARGE PART
OF MESS|NES RIDGE
IN TERRIFIC FIGHT
Fresh Masses of Troops
Hurled Against Tired
British Defenders.
BITTEREsT STRUGGLE
WAGED IN FOUR TOWNS
Key to Ypres Sector Will Give
Germans Commanding Po-
sition for Drive.
TEN HUN WLERs SUNK
Prussians Claim American Positions
ut st. MihicI Were Taken by
Storm and Held.
TEN Hun TRAwLERs SUNK
Prussians Claim American Positions
at st. MiiicI Were Taken by
Storm and Held.
TRy Associated Press

Ry Associated Press
Germany's mighty effort on the bat
tie field of Flanders has won new sue
ccsScs. According to the latest re-
ports. the important strategic towns of
Bailleul. Wulvcrghem and Wytschacte
are in German hands. and, more im-
portant still. the Teutons have carried
a large part OF Messincs ridge by
storm.
Probably there has been no more
bitter struggle during the war than
that waGed along the battle line
through tho towns OF Baiileul. Neuve
ESlise, Wulvershcm and Wytschacte
Ncuve Eglise was taken Monday but
Baillcul held out until fresh masses
of German troops were hurled into the
fray. and charged repeatedly on the
tired defenders. The same story might
be told ot Wulvcrghem and Wyt-
schaete, while the battle for Messincs
ridge must have been frishtful in its
intensity.
The Germans have not attempted TO
advance their wedge further into the
British lines, for no new attacks on
Mcrville and further west have been
reported. They have devoted their
sole attention TO the work of widening
out the salient and striking at Ncssines
ridge and the railroad running about
six miles north OF BaiIleul. Messines
ridge is the key TO the Yprcs sector.
and its possession will give the Ger
mans commanding position in start
inE new drive.
HAS IMPOItTANT HEARING
ON NORTHERN BATTLE FRONT
The successes of the Germans in the
last day have an important bearing on
the campaign on the northern battle
front. II they are continued. there
must be n British retirement from
Npres, and possibly for some distance
further north. while the cutting OF the
railroad passing through Hazebrouck
would be still more serious for the
British.
So important are the points won by
the Germans that the British must be
expected TO counterattack ut once in
an effort to sweep the invaders back
into the lowlands once more All ac-
counts of the battle along this line
speak OF the small British forcos which
attempted 10 withstand the attacks By
heavy lesions OF Teutons which we're
brought up fresh for the assault
There is higher ground just 10 tho
north OF Bailleul and Neuve Eglise
from which tho British can still con-
duct stern defense Merville is
standing firm, In spite OF terrific att
tacks made against 1t, while along the
southern side OF the salient there have
been no cnGa gements reported. The
same condition holds true in the sec
tor before Amiens, where there has
been only artillery duels. Raiding op-
erations in which both sides have
taken the initiative are reported from
the French front In Champagne
BERLIN CLAIMS cArrUnE
OF AMERICAN POSITIONS
In spite OF the reports from tho
american front that German attacks.
re have been utter failures, a report
IN Berlin via Amsterdam says that
the American positions near St Mih;cl
were taken by storm by the Germans
who held them against determined
countcrattacks 1t is probable that the
German report deals with the battle in
which the Americans administered
sound beating to special shock troops
brought UP by the Germans TO take the
American positions.
Ten German trawlers have been sunk
in the kattcEat. tho narrow strait be-
tween Jutland and Norway by a Brit
ish feet. The survivors OF the trawlers'
crews were rescued.
The operations in the Kattcgat the
statement says. were undertaken by the
coinmander-in-c -chief OF the grand fee;
The statement follows:
The commander in chief OF the grand
fleet reports having undertaken to
sweep the katteSat on April IS. Ten
German trawlers were sunk by gunfrc.
their crews being saved by British
ships. There were no British casual
ties"
BEIIEyE NAVAL RAID
FRESAGES BIC RATTLE
Still moro significant seems the form
OF the British announcement which
comes iii a report from Vice -Admira,
Sir David Beatty, comma ander In chic.
OF the grand Meet. This would appear
TO indicate that the grand fleet is out
and possibly presages most important
naval developments
The operation was undertaken yes
terday for the purpose OF sweeping the