Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-04-17


compelled to withdraw
his troops from advanced
positions on the Pass
chendaee ridge east OF Ypres.
The Flanders battle has reached its
critical stage. BY constant pressure
and the continued use OF fresh troops
the Germans have broken the British
grasp upon the Messines ridge and
the British grip upon the Passchen-
daele ridge is seriously menaced II it
has not already been crushed
These two dominating heights are
the British key positions in Belgium.
In the Wytschaete sector at the north
ern end of the Messines ridge the
British drove forward IN a night coun-
ter attack which the British war Of
flee today described as successful.
There was another British success
at Materen between one and two miles
ed foothold in the village yesterday
but in desperate hand to hand fighting
they rolled back. leaving the British
in complete possession OF the village
The fighting, on the front south Of
Arras again left the English the vic
tors The Germans penetrated a few
trenches but the British made a pow
erful counter thrust which complete.
ly restored the situation.
While thristing against the British
height position on Messines ridge the
Germans renewed their efforts against
The British lines north OF Bailluel.
Blows were struck In the direction Of
/ st. james, but no success was obtain
/ ed The attacking forces came UNDER
direct lire OF British artillery and
and were moved down IN heaps. {
Greeks on Battle Front.
London, April 1.-THE Greek army
Went into battle against the German
allies today for the first time since.
Greece entered the war and won a
victory the British war office an
'nounced today
An important success was achieved
in the sector of the Struma river in
Greek Macedonia and number OF
villages were captured from the Bul-
garian and German forces.
The Greeks captured FIVE villages
while the British captured another.
Forcing a crossing of the Strhma
early in the morning the Greeks drove
Tie Bulgarians and Germans from five
villages on the eastern side.
British troops that were operating
with the Greeks occupied the i'm
portant village of Kumli-Ormanli, be
tween eight and nine miles south of
the Bulgarian frontier.
Name czernin Successor.
Washington April ll,--Advices
reaching here today stated that Baron
Burian. Hungarian. has been named
4 foreign minister Of Austria-HuugalY
succeeding Count Czernin,
STORY OF THE FIGHT.
London, April With the Brit
4 ish holding doggedy to the western
slopes of the famous Nessines ridge.
the Germans have begun drumiire
cannonade northward in the sector
Of the Passehandaele heights. indi,
eating an extension OF the battle OF
Flanders to the one east Of lpres
Although the British have sustained
some reyerses during the past thirty
six hours, nothing vital has been lost
and the optimistic declarations by
Premier Lloyd.George in the House
of Commons have ha dan electrical ef.
feet on both the members and the
public at large.
The chief developments IN the
struggle are these,
|. The Germans have taken Bait
loul. Wytschaete and SpanOrooknlolen,
gaining footing on the Messines
ridge.
. The battle front has been al.
yanced until it now lies about four
and one.half miles from Ha2ebrouck.
one OF the chief local obieetives Of
the Germans