Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-04-12
THURSDAYS BATTLE DESCRIBED.

Germans Fail in Attempt to Capture
!wo Dominating Positions.
With the British Army in France,
April 11.-Determined enemy attacks
continued today against points Of
strategical value north and south Of
Armentieres, from which the British
have Withdrawn.
On the extreme right the Germans
today were pounding away against the
British defenses at Givenchy, which
has changed hands many times since
the initial enemy onslaught on Tues
day.
North Of Amentieres the Germans
were showing an equal desire to pos
sess Messines ridge and Wytschaete,
which are dominating positions, and
which changed hands several times
yesterday and last night.
The Germans got a footing in Mes
!sines village and they were still there
this morning, but the British were
elinging TO the. west ridge and are keep
ing the enemy by Wytschaete.
South Of Armentieres the enemy also
delivered violent assaults.
Armentisres Desoiated.
The British this morning forced the
enemy from Paradis southwest of Les
trem. This is on the front between
Estaires and ,Givenchy.
Armentieres was evacuated yester-
day afternoon, but was still reeking to-
day with clouds Of poisonous gas and
was most inhospitable place The
British withdrawal became necessary
when the Germans drove on Steen-
werck, bottling up the city. By their
operations the Germans had gradually
thrust forws,A lines on either side Of
the city until at noon yesterday Ar
mentieres lay at the bottom of sack
shaped salient, whose sides were 10000
yards long and whose mQuth. near
steenwerck, was only 5000 yards
across.
The withdrawal does not mean as
much from a military standpoint as
might appear. but the Germans may
make much Of the capture for moral
effect at home.
Loss Of Ground Not Disastrous.
In order to appreciate fully the trend
Of the present fighting the offensive
operations must be reviewed as a
whole, as they go to make up what un-
doubtedly is the crucial contest of the
war. A loss of a city here or there
does not mean disaster.
The battle has got beyond such con-
siderations and has settled down to =
race to determine YhSther the German
man power is strong enough to mako
good it's threat to annihilate the Brit
ish army. 1t is a question of which
side can kill the most men in the next
few weeks
The mists yesterday favored the
enemy and hampered the defending
gunners.
The enemy yesterday did not attack
with the huge forces heretofore en-
ployed, tho he undoubtedly used more
men than were holding the line Of at
tack.
South Of Armentieres the British
continued to hold most of their from.
satisfactorily. TheSeheniy obtained a
footing in Lestrem but were quickly
forced out again. Last night con-
siderable German force crossed the
river between Vile Chapelle, and Les
trem and once more approached Les
trem but again were thrust back.
Thruout the day German aviators
Gid much flying at low heights and
also were active in bombing work.
Bicycle Corps Saves Portuguese.
A small force Of the British bicycle
corps did brilliant work Tuesday when
the Portuguese were forced back and it
was necessary to reinforce the line.
This little body Of troops was thrown
in and held on gallantly until the
regular infantry could be brought UP!
There was bitter fighting near c.a!..==
du Bac. where the Germans crossed
the river by wading. The British held
their fire and allowed the enemy to
assemble. Once-the Germans were in
the river The defenders opened fire
and there was huge pile of bodies in
and ther was a huge pile Of bodies in
the waterway before the enemy could
cross.
Berlin Statement Mild.
Berlin, via London. April 12.-1n re-
ference to the situation on the
Picardy battle front the official state
ment today says:
"on- the battle front on both sides
of the Somme and on the southern
bank of the Disc the fighting activity