The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-20
HAIG IS WINNER
DESPITE RETREAT
BEFORE YPRES
British Are Winning Great Battle
in FIanderS-Germans
Unable to Gain.
DISASTROUS FOR THE HUNS
Massed Waves Are Shot Down at
Close Range When English Gun
ners Get Their Flank In the
Zillebeke Sector.

Close Range When English Gun
ners Get Their Flank In the
Zillebeke Sector.
London, April 18.-"The same spirit
that carried your army through 1871
sustains us all again today against
overwhelming Odds" says Field Mar
shall Haig In telegram sent to FieIc
Marshal French, thanking him for 9
message of encouragement.
London, April 1S.-The battle in
Flanders is raging with incredible
intensity, telegraphs the correspond
ent of Reuters Ltd, at the British
army headquarters in France. AS far
as the latest reports enable the CORE
spondent to judge, the battle is going
In favor of the British Notwithstand-
ing the desperate attacks of the Ger
mans they have gained no ground
since Tuesday morning and apparent
ly they have lost some. Among the
numerous enemy attacks Tuesday aft
ernoon and evening on the northern
front in Flanders one in great force
in the Zillebeke sector, east of Ypres,
was disastrous for the Germans,
whose massed waves were shot down
at close range. They apparently were
ordered to retire and then the British
gunnerS got ON their flank, the CORE
spondent says, and the slaughter was
appalling.
London. April 1S.-Ia consequence
of the enemy pressure in the center
along the Lys, British troops have
been forced to retire from advanced
positions on the northern flank, east
of Ypres, General Haig reported. This
indicates the first tightening of the
British lines for the defense of Ypres
itself.
According to an Exchange Tele-
graph dispatch from Paris the Ger
mans have advanced from Wytschaete
as far as st. Eloi and also have a grip
on the southern slopes Of Mount KEN
mel.
The British made successful coun-
ter-attack In the neighborhood of
Wytschaete. Repeated German at
tacks north Of Bailleul were repulsed,
the Germans suffering heavy losses.
South of Arras the Germans were
driven out of British trenches into
which they had forced their way.
Early in the morning the German ar
tillery became more active south of
the Somme.
The British have recaptured Met
eren, on the northern battle front, by
counter-attack, 1t is announced Off
cially.
Hun Losses Enormous.
The statement follows:
Yesterday evening we delivered a
successful counter-attack In the neigh
borhood Of Wytschaete. At Meteren
also our counter-attack restored the
situation and the village remains In
our hands. Throughout the after
noon and evening yesterday repeated
hostile attacks north Of Bailleul were
repulsed with loss to the enemy.
Bodies of German infantry advancing
In close formation were caught under
the fire of our troops at short range
and suffered heavy casualties. We Sc
cured few prisoners"
Shatter Hun Advance.
"The enemy also endeavored to de.
velop an attack yesterday afternoon
east of Robecqu, following the bonn
bardment already reported, but his
advance was broken up by our artil-
lery fire.
I'm consequence of the progress
made by the enemy on the Lys front
our troops holding our forward posi-
tons east Of Ypres have been with
drawn to a new line. The withdrawal
was carried out deliberately, without
interference by the enemy. Yesterday
afternoon parties Of his troops adj
vancing over our old positions were
caught by the fire of our outposts and
destroyed.
Win South of Arras.
ION the battle front south of Arras
parties Of German infantry who had
entered our trenches opposite Bo-
yelles We're driven out yesterday aft
ernoon with the loss of several pris-
oners. Our line in this locality has
been completely restored.
"The hostile artillery activity in
creased considerably early in the
morning on the British front south
of the Somme."
Big Guns Active.
Paris, April 18.-Heavy artillery
fighting occurred last night on the
principal battle front between the
Somme and the Disc, the war office
announced. The statement follows:
"On the front between the Somme
and the Olse there was great activity
Of the artillery on both sides and pa
troll encounters occurred.
1.-THE French carried out several
raids, especially southwest of Butte
de Mesnil, In the region of Tahure
and north Of Flirey. We took a mum.
Der of prisoners. On the right bank
Of the Mouse a German attack east of
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