Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-04-12

London, April 1Z.-Attackfng yes
terday in the neighborhood o.
Ploegsteert, the Germans pressed
back the British to the vicinity o.
Neuve Eglise, it is announced Off
cially.
Last night the Germans captured
Merville. Heavy fighting is contin.
uing in the neighborhood OF Mer'
Vile and Neuf Berquin.
On the remainder of the northerr
battle front there is little change
North OF Festub, the British regain.
ed ground by a counter attack. Or
the front between Loisne and the
Lave river, German attacks wer,
repulsed.
Fighting on French Front.
Paris, April 12.-Hot ARTILLERY
fighting occurred last night neai
Hangard En- Santerre, on the from
north of Montdidier, the war Office
announces.
Foe Attacks Continued.
With the British Army in France
Thursday, April 11-(By the Asso-
ciated Press. .)-Determined enemy
attacks continued today agains
points OF strategical value along thu
new battle front north and south OF
Armentieres from which the British
have Withdrawn, the Germans hav.
ing placed 1t in a pocket by driving
a wedge on either side of it.
On the extreme right the Ger.
mans today were pounding away
against the British defenses at Gi-
FaI h
numerous times since the initial en-
emy onslaught Tuesday. North OF
Armentieres the Germans were
showing an equal desire to possess
Messines ridge and Wytchaets
which are dominating positions and
which changed hands several times
yesterday and last night. The Ger
mans got a footing in Messines viii
lage and they were still there this
morning, but the British were
clinging to the west ridge and were
keeping the enomy from Wytchaeta
In the neighborhod of Ploegsteert
the enemy again surged forward
and hard fighting was proceeding in
the section late today. South OF Ar
mentieres the enemy also delivered
violent assaults.
British I'm COunterblOW.
The British this morning made a
successful counterattack and
forced the enemy from Paradis.
southwest of Lestrem. This is on
the front between Estaires and Gil
venchy
Armentieres was evacuated yes
terday afternoon, but was still
rnal-fnur fnAazr rr-frh n1nfrIE AF Fanfa-
onous gas and was a most inhospit-
able place for the enemy. The Brit
ish withdrawal became necessary
when the Germans on the north
drove forward to the vicinity of
Steenwerck. bottling up the city. BY
their operation. the Germans had
gradually thrust forward lines on
either side OF the city toward the
west, at noon yesterday.
Loss Not Important.
The withdrawal doe not mean as
much from military standpointa as
might appear from g. first glance
but the Germans undoubtedly Will
make much OF the capture for the
moral effect az home Any distress
over the abandonment OF Armeu-
tires is due more TO sentimental
than tactical reasons.
In order 10 appreciate fully the
trend OF the present fighting the Of
tensive operations must be viewed
as n whole for they so 20 make up
what undoubtedly Is the crucial
conflict OF the war The loss OF a
city here or there or the abandon
ment OF five or ten miles OF terri
tory in any sector does not mean
diseasteP
Question OF Man-POWer.
The battle has got beyond such
considerations and has settled down
to grim race 10 determine
whether the German power is
enough TO make good the threat 20
annihilate the British army and
force its capitufatiop. II is a cold
proposition OF which side can kin
the most men in the next few weeks
Continued On Page Eleyen.) q,