Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-04-25

ing on the nosth bank OF the somme and
few prisoners.
by n successful local operation carried
out this morning northwest of Festubert a
post. captured by the enemy in this To-
cality on the 22nd, was regained. The hos
tile garrison offered strong resistance and
lost heavily. We captured few prison.
ers and four machine guns.
EARLY In the morning the enemy deliv-
cred a strong local attack without sue
cess, against our new positions east of
Robeck. Our line was maintained intact
and 81 prisoners were left in our hands.
Additional prisoners were secured in sue
cessful minor enterprises in the forest of
Nieppe and in the neighborhood of Met
eren."
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE. April "a, 200 p. m. (By the AS
ISOLATED Press).-Hard fighting developed
this morning on the southern battle front,
the enemy attacking south of the Somme
along the line of Villcrs-Bretonneux.
dangard-en-Santerre, Hailles and Castel.
Fairly developments indicated that the
Germans were trying only for limited
objectives.
On the British sector Villers-Bretonneux,
which nestles on a ridge overlooking the
long stretch of the Somme valley, was the
storm center. and here the enemy for the
first time since the war began had tanks
I'm action. Three of these engines of war
| accompanied the storming infantry. which
| at latest reports had battled forward into
the eastern outskirts OF tho town. where
severe lighting took place.
/ From the French sector came word
4 sr.-A
progress.
The assault was preceded by n heavy
bombardment about Villers- -Bretonneux.
At the conclusion Of this preparation the
Germans surged forward along the whole
! British front south of the Somme, al
though 1t seemed evident that they had
| Nillers-BretonneuN as their ultimate
goal because of its dominating position.
The first attack was thrown back. but
the enemy Immediately came forward
again, and this time mot with more sue
cess In the face of heavy machine gun
and rifle fire the Germans pushed on to-
ward the town. their three tanks leading.
The British gave way slightly. and the
enemy got a footing in the eastern fringe
of the town.
| Further north. little above the Albert
region. the British infantry put up an s..
! ~. -. ioi itihSis piotCSthoH uoouL ioui
o'clock this morning, and what appeared
to promise a serious attack began to
show. 1t turned out to be nothing more
pretentions than an attempted raid. how
ever, and the British artillery smashed the
enemy infantry as they were leaving their
| trenches.
Between Robecq and Givenchy-lez-La
Bassee there was also considerable enc
my shelling this morning and the Ger
mans made a small attack In an attempt
! to take "a post near Givenchy. But this
movement was quickly stopped by the
| British fire. The British carried out
miner operations at Givenchy. which re-
suited In the capture Of a strong post
which the enemy held.
South Of the Clarence river four Ger
man companies which essayed local at
tack were repulsed.
Paris, April 24.-The battle on the
whole front south of the Somme and
on the Avre lasted all day and still
continues. according to the war office
announcement tonight The Germans
gained q footing In the woods north
ward Of Hangard-en -Santerre and also
In the eastern outskirts of tho village
which the French are desperately de-
Tending.
Several enemy assaults were shat
tered near Hailles. and attacks at Sene-
cat wood and Hill SO also failed.