Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-04-15
SEE COLLAPSE
OF BERLIN's PLAN
A stage highly favorable to the allies was
reached today in the great battle on the plains OF
Flanders

lighting themselves to
exhaustion in fruitless
attacks against the British and their
chances of breaking through are be-
coming more remote daily.
All day Sunday the Germans bat
tered in vain against the British lines
and when darkness compelled a halt,
the front stood where il had stood
in the morning. except at one point in
Belgium As a result of the heavy
Gevnan pressure at Newye, Eglise,
the gritish gave up the village for the
second time. This withdrawal how
ever was without any military in
portance.
The Germans tried yainly to force
their way into Ballieul, a stragetic
railway center. but were flung back
leaving the fitld covered with mum
berless ded and wounded
the twelve-mile front north OF Mer.
! vile to the sector of Euve Eglise.
! The Teutons advanced in valves and
north of Merville, seven assaults
were delivered. AT one point the
/ British front was slightly dented Dut
| before the Germans could consolidate
their new positions. the British count
er attacked hurting the enemy back
10 his old position.
The Germans are still far away
from their immediate objective in this
sector.
There has been another flare-up OF
; fighting east Of tht British base or
: Amicns
, Successes attended Anglo.French
arms in that region as well as farther
north.
The British improved their posi-
ton in the Hangard sector while the
French carried out local operations
which were officially described as
: completely successful.
/; The allied counterthrusts are gain
ing momentum on all parts of the
front.
The British and French troops are
: showing the do or die spirit asked
. by Field Marshall Haig and conf
dence grows, now that General Foch
, is directing the movement Of the
! allied armies.
Kaiser on Flanders Front.
London April Is, The Kaiser was
e on the Flanders battle front from
y Tuesday to Thursday of last week.
r according to a report from Amster-
dam today
& A FranNurter newspaper was quot
n ed as saying that the full strategic
r plan of the German command has
@ not been accomplished
l. l. is indicated that the results are
z disappointing to the Germans
g French Take Prisoners.
e Paris, April lj.-French forces in
o the sector OF Hangard east Of Amiens
c were completely successful in local
operations, capturing ten prisoners
the war office announced today.
s Since April II the French have
n captured 150 prisoners. Between
q Montdidier and Noyon, and on the
, Champagne front, the French conduct
!, Ell a number OF successful raids. cap
- turing some prisoners
Repulse German Attack.
F., London, April 1.-THE repulse o.
- strong German attacks on the Fland
=, ers battle front and the improvement
- of British positions in the Hangarc
sector were reported by the british
-, war Office today.
- The British captured over $50 pris
= onors and number OF machine guns
-. At a point whore the British lin
=, was bent the Germans were quickl,
-. thrown back hy counterthrust
~ Reach Turning Point.
Washington. April 1.-THE turning
point in the West is being reached
The Germans have scored distnc
advantage which It would be very M
T wise 10 endeayor TO belittle.
With these solemn words OF warn
., ing. the war department weekly rC
,WIr W view today sums up the war situa
-, tion. The Huns are within fort
49,, miles OF Calais, the statemen cor
~. tinues, and as the lines Of conmuu
or cation to channel ports radiate vel
a. tically from this battlefront th
German advance is greatly facilitated
.h, Gains Are Checked.
.er London. April l5-Despite thci
vs employment of vast forces OF fres
ar. men. the Germans have been unabl
to extend their gains in The gres
tle Flanders battle aud today found tn
III, British stll holding lrm in their ba
tie positions and the lines intact.