Republican farmer., 1918-04-19
U. s. Troops Aiding French In ThiCkeSt
 Of ApremOnt Fray
CITY OF RHEIMS IS IN FLAMES AND FRENCH UNDER COMMANDMENT TRY TO LIMIT BURNING AREA-FOE
 FALTERS AT ARMENTIERES.
BRITISH ADVANCE POSITIONS

not only maintained themselves but advanced their line slightly near Festubert, capturing important enemy post.
 The Germans last night renewed their attacks our posi- ons in Brue wood in the forest of Aremon says the office. American troops in this sector conjunction with the French have combated with vgor broken the ma orly of the attacks At point where the enemy ained footing, he thrown out by counter attack
 On the Somme battle front the entire village of Hangard and the adjoining cemetery have been reganed mans.
 9Th city of Rheims is in flames We attempting limit the burning working under heavy bombardment"
 Pressing their attack against the British wessouhwe Amentere the Germans also have extended efforts other fronts and have clashed with and American troops In the north the Germans advancing toward Ball. eu the Pcardy battle front they the village of Han gard after heavy fighting Mhie American and French troops have repued enemy attack Apremont forest.
 Germans putting most of their strength widening the salient south of Armeneres evident attempt outfank the hill positions and gain important railroad Baeu northwest of Armeneres and west of the southern end of the Messfnes ridge Hazebrouck Are toward which the Germans endeavorng to push home their attacks also important railroad bases.
 BRITISH ARE FORCED BACK
 St. Venant between Mervle and Are was heavily attack ed today by strong forces of Germans after their success of last night which gave them possession Merve The enemy desrous of reaching Aire railroad center and were throwing large numbers of troops into the conflict attempt to drive the British back The German threat in this direction undoubtedly is of considerable importance.
 The fighting today continued to be of the berest natue not only the Merve neghborhood the main assault was made but also northward from Givenchy
 Yesterday and last night the enemy continued his pressure from Wytschaee southWard anad gradually forced the British Ito fall back from Poegeert and Poegsteert wood the battle was staged today Neuve Egse to the west.
 In the meantime steady pressure maintaneu in the Earies sector beyond which lay Merve Are During the night the pushed back the eenses Lesrem and captured Calonne Ls just southwest Merve At the time they pressed down through Berquin little above Merve and these two conveng forces hurled them selves on the town
 Il DIE RATHER THAN RETREAT
 Field Marshal Hag, like Marshal Jore battle of the Marne has called his soldiers firm and die rather than give up position enemy Military observers and Maj Gen. Maurice agree that crisis has been reached hee must be retrement Field Marshal Hag says his appeal French forces are rapidly coming to the aid of the British gigantic and most sangunary struggle probably en- acted on the lowlands between Lille and St. Omer. Il With the British Army in France Friday April 12-(By the Associated PresWith the exception Merve the Ger far have not reached their obecves part for the present drive north and south of Armeners captured Ger document that to be three smashes on the front north and south of Armeneres Baeu as its main objective, the other Merve and Aire the third Bethune.
 Not less than 2S divisions employed by the enemy in this preentous program which meant that at places the British have been heavily ounumbered division aggregates 1900 to OOO including 75OO rifles a1 NO CESSATION IN FIGHTING
 Giving way before greater numbers, the British fell back toward St. Venant fighting doggedly all the against the closely pressing Germans sangunary battle proceeding today east of St. with the British making determined
 stand During the night the British center west of Steenwerck west of Armenere and reoccuped Bacque n after hard fighting.
 German attack about Gvenchy on the southern end the battle ne pressed today by nine divisions There has been virtually cessation the fighting since beginning of the battle Tuesday, So far the British have maintained stone wall defense against which the Germans flung themselves with heavy losses Today the casualty
 list of the attacking troops sweed appangly the Brit h artillery and machine guns pounded points g and troops advancing in close formation. d GALLANT STAND AT GIVENCHY
 The work of the British gunners at Givenchy has been noteworthy. the first day when the swept ward in and the situation very grave many ar ery worked for hours shooting point black at One gunnery sergeant stood by his piece firing with open sights at of 200 yards and held off for consider able time the enemy before he compelled to fall l. back.
 The British troops who have been making such gallant stand just above Givenchy also distinguished themselves by Q holding the Germans up for hours point the battle before Cambrai Nov 30 when the enemy a tackled
 became known today that of the 75O Germans captured Givenchy last Tuesday 300 rounded while dvo ling energies to lootinp a British