Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1918 — GERMANS GAIN SOME GROUND BUT LOSE MANY MEN [ARTICLE]

GERMANS GAIN SOME GROUND BUT LOSE MANY MEN

Seven days after the Germans launched their gigantic assault against the British lines between Lens and Ypres, the momentum of their attack has been broken and the waves of the Teutonic forces are recoiling before the rock of the British defense. While the Germans have made gains of ground and have driven a wedge into the allied lines to a considerable depth, they seem to have failed in their attempt to break through or take important railroad junctions. During the last day there have been bitterly fought engagements at four places, all on the northern side of the salient to the south of Ypres. Seven assauts against the British trenches at Merville, near the apex of the triangular dent in the British line, have been hurled back by the British. Neuve Eglise, on the extreme southwestern spur of Messines ridge, has been taken by the Germans after a struggle which will go into history as one of the greatest of the past week. The British, however, have not retired far and it is probable that they will at once organize a counter attack to force the Germans out of the town which, if held, might be a “kicking off” point for an attack which might outflank and make untenable Messines ridges, the key to the British positions about Ypres. Bailleul and Wulverrgehm, between Neuve, Eglise and Merville, also lave been the scenes of hard fighting, but except for Neuve Eglise, the northern side of the salient has stood firm. On the southern side of the salient, according to Berlin fierce struggles have been fought. It has been the German .plan of Campaign since March 21, when the great offensive started, to strike Tard at some particular point, and if that blow war parried, to turn powerfully against some new point. This procedure probably will be followed in the next few days by a new assault somewhere south of Arras. An attack north of Ypres is hardly possible, for the lowlands of Belgium are as yet too waterlogged to permit active operations. An attack on Arras would entail the hurling, of troops agiinst Vimy ridge, the labyrinth and* other formidable military works protecting that city. It may be that the savage fighting reported at Hangard-en-Sante-ree, south of Albert and on the center of the line facing Amiens, may mark the beginning of a new attempt to sweep westward toward Amiens. So far the fighting has brought the Germans only losses in men and ground. Further south near Montdidier, there has been intense artillery firing, but the Germans have not attempted infantry operations in this important sector.