GREAT BRITISH DRIVE IN FULL SWING
Canadians, aided by ‘tanks’ capture famous Vimy ridge and 2,000 Hun prisoners Haig’s men take 9,000 Huns in first day of giant forward smash on west front
Stronghold seized in surprise attack; foe troops dazed by British artillery fire
LONDON, APRIL 10 Repulse of all German counter-attacks in severe fighting on the Vimy ridge was reported by Field Marshal Haig today.
“There was severe fighting during the night at the northern end of Vimy ridge,” he said. The enemy was ejected and a counter-attack by them failed. The eastern slope was cleared and counter-attacks repulsed.
“In the neighborhood of St. Quentin,” the report continued, “the enemy was driven from the high ground between Le Verguier and Hargicourt.
“After an intense bombardment the enemy at night attacked on a narrow front southeast of Ypres and succeeded in reaching our support line. They were immediately ejected, leaving several dead.”
Fampoux is about three and onehalf miles northeast of Arras in the direction of Viley-en-Artois and Douai.
Hargicourt is on a line with Fresanoy-le-Petit, Pontru and Massemy, all about two and a half miles distant from the main line of German communications between Cambrai and St. Quentin.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN FRANCE, VIA LONDON. APRIL 10 The war on the western front broke into full swing today. Widening the attacks against the retreating Germans in the sector of the Somme, the British struck still further north and in a series of assaults on a broad front, with Arras more or less the pivotal point, they drove the Germans from scores of important positions, penetrated far into the German lines and inflicted heavy casualties.
In the territory captured today was the famous Vimy ridge, which had been fought over time and time again ever since the war was ten months old. The French had fought desperately and valiantly in an endeavor to wrest this vantage ground from the Germans, the battles costing both belligerents untold casualties.
TANKS SHARE HONORS IN ASSAULT
The fighting on Vimy ridge was carried out by the Canadians, who had retained a footing on the ridge all the winter, but always higher up was the enemy. On either side of the Canadians were English and Scottish battalions, and in today’s battle, there was glory enough for all. The irrepressible “tanks” also shared in the honors of the successful assault.
The Canadians took 2,000 prisoners.
LONDON, APRIL 10 Field Marshal Haig’s offensive today continued northward. A dispatch received here from his headquarters mentioned fighting near La Bassee.
LONDON, APRIL 10 Bitter fighting marked the continuation of Field Marshal Haig’s forward smash in the great spring offensive today. The British commander-in-chief reported nine thousand prisoners and forty guns as yesterday’s captures in the first day of his tremendous sledge hammer smash.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES AFIELD, There is every reason to APRIL 10 believe by tonight the great British smash will have netted Field Marshal Haig 15,000 prisoners and between 50 and 100 guns.
The driving force of the great offensive was undiminished today with bitter opposition form the enemy.
While these figures are unofficial, they are based on careful estimates and calculations.
The British have advanced to a point four miles to the east of Arras and have stormed four systems of trenches along the north bank of the Searpe to Briond which was famous for their boasted strength.
FACE FAST SYSTEM OF GERMAN LINE
To the south of the Searpe today the British were facing the last system of the German line, which nearly opposite the famous “Hindenberg line.” From this point the fighting front runs by Feuchy Chapelle to the east to Neuville Vitasse and southwardly. All along in this section the troops are now facing the Hindenberg defenses.
The fighting has not slackened in the slightest degree today. The troops are immensely pleased to be moving again after the inaction of trench warfare.
SPRING DRIVE IN COLDEST WEATHER
The “spring offensive” comes, oddly enough, in the coldest April weather in 50 years; to the accompaniment of a gale of blowing snow and sleet which bites stingingly into the faces of men, but fails to dampen their spirits.
When the “push” started one could hear thousands marching through the blackness of the night singing and joking. The Canadian divisions, be it known, stepped along to the lively music of American ragtime.
Prisoners continued to pour back of the lines today—most of them Wurtembergers, Hamburgers and Bavarians. They made quite a cheerful—in many cases even a gay bunch.
LONDON, APRIL 10 England was prepared today for vast casualty lists but steeled to sacrifice by knowledge that Field Marshal Haig ’s sledge-hammer blows have cracked the steel of the German line around Arras and his wedge seemed likely to split the enemy front further apart.
Actually the British are operating over a front of close to 50 miles. It was on a section of nearly 15 miles frontage that Haig yesterday struck his mightiest blows.
TAKING OF VIMY RIDGE HAILED
Not only was the taking of Vimy Ridge hailed here with satisfaction on sentimental grounds, but it was pointed out that domination here destroys all hope of the Germans’ favorite plan of nut-cracker tactics — Vimy Ridge being the swivelled junction point of the two pincerlike arms heretofore forced north and south by the Teutons. Moreover Vimy commands the rich coal and industrial section of France. With this position in British hands the Teutons’ grip on the section is immediately menaced. And Germany desperately needs the coal and metal there.