Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-04-17
Cinging to Slopes in
Hope of Stopping
Onslaught.
MINE CRATERS LOST
Carried by Huns During
Surprise Attack,
Berlin Says.


man troops have carried
Wytschaete and the greater
part of Messines ridge. ac-
cording a. a dispatch from
the Reuter- correspondent at
b British headquarters IN
France, received here tonight.
The enemy also has> estab-
lished himself in Spanbrok-
molen, The British are still
clinging to the slopes Of Mes
sines ridge, battling desper-
ately to repel the attacks
made upon them by over
whelming German forces.
LONDON. April is.--uermsny's
mighty effort on the battlefield of
Flanders has won ner successes.
According To the latest reports tho
important strategic towns Of Bsil-
ieul, WolyerEhem and Wytsehsete
are In German hands and more irn-
poftant stih the Teutons have car
rled a large part OF Msssines ridge
by storm.
Probably there has bean no more
bitter struggle during the war than
that waged along the battle Iins
through tho towns OF Baiilenl. Nsuvs
eglise. Wulverghem and wyts-
chaete, Neuve Egiise was taken
Monday. hut Bailleul held out until
flesh masses of German troops were
hurled into the fray and charged
repeatedly on the tired defsnderh.
The same story might he told Of
WulyerKhem and Wytschaefc wfiiis
the battle for Messines ridge must
have been frishtfui In It's intensity.
Wedge HesitsteA
The Germans have not attempted
to advance their wedge further into
the British lines for no new at
tacks on Merville and further west
have been ..Ssported They hsve
devoted the eole attention 20 the
work OF wideTlns out tho salient aud
striking At Messlnea ridge and the
railroad running about six miles
north Of Ballleul !, Messines ridge
Ia the key TO the Ypres sector and
I've possession will give the Germanf
a commanding position In starting q
new drive.
The successes Of the Germans IN
the last day have an lmportsut bear.
ing on the campaign on the north.
ern battle front II they are con-
Itinued there must be a British re-
tlreme1l from Ypres and possibly
for somt distance fvrthere north
while the cutting Of the railroad
passing through Haxebrouck will be
still moro serious for the British.
So important are the points won
by tho Germans that the British
must be experted 10 counter attack
At once In an effort to sweep the
invaders back into the lJwlauds
once more Al accounts OF the bat
tie along this line speak ~ the small
British forces which attempted 10
Withstand the attacks by heavy le-
Eions 81 Tcutnns, which were
No, sJ,onred
There - hinFNr ground Just north
~ Baillcul and Ncuve Eslisc from
which The Br'iah can still conduct
= stern defense hervtlls % stand
ing firm IN spitc ~ terrific attacks
made against H. while along the
southern side of the salient there
have b""u NJ engagements reported.
The same conditions hold through
IN he occtor before Ainiens where
there hove heen Only ARTILLERY ducla
HaldirE operations In which both
sidcg have taken the initiative are
repeated from TIE French trent IN
t'haupa -~e
I'M spiIe NJ reports from the Amer
.rlu FROM that German attacks hava
been utter failures report from
Berlin via AIMS erdam SAYS that the
American positions near ~ Mihiel
were taken by storm by the Ger
mans wsu held them against deter
mined couu'ci attacks. !; IL pgOh-
20 llo that iLe German reports cecla
with the battle .r which the Amer
teams admiui1irrcd sound beating
10 special sh0ri tfoops brought up
hy the CcIulas 30 take tho Amer
team positions.
Tho Grrwans in Finland ARE al
yarclrg east of Helslnsfors and ara
onconnterirg ,ittl9 II airy resist
anCc.
Recommends Melting of
nAn nAn