Evening star., 1917-03-23
H|NDENBURG TURNS
| ON FOE, BUT FAILS |
T0CHECK ADVANCE
Violent German attack North
of st. Simon Gains Ground.
Later Lost.
NIVELLE'S MEN ADVANCE
TO NORTH OF SOISS0NS
Both Paris and Berlin Claim 1nfic.
ton of Heavy Losses Upon Enemy
in Many Engagements Raging.

in Many Engagements Raging.
BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, March pa violent attack
was made by the Germans last night
north of St. Simon. in the region east
of Ham. Today's war Office announce
ment says the Germans gained some
ground at the beginning, but were
counter. attacked Immediately and
driven back as far as Sermuccurt-le-
Simon.
The French continued to advance
north of Scissors. Fresh detachments
crossed the Aillette.
The statement says details which had
been received regarding the attack by
the Germans on Vregny-Chivres line
show that they suffered heavy losses.
Two companies of French chasseurs.
which were isolated for moment from
the remainder of the troops, cut their
way through and brought back pris-
onerS.
Fighting Near st. Quentin.
Hard fighting has been in progress
between the French and Germans. and
in the neighborhood of st. Quentin, ac-
cording to the official statement issued
by the war Office last night the Ger
mans made a number of attempts to
drive back the French from the east
bank of the St. Quentin canal. but the
attacks failed.
Latest French Report.
The Official statement of today fol-
lows:
North of ST. Simon the enemy made
a violent attack last night on our
position near the village of Artemps.
Our troops were thrown back slightly
at first. but Immediately counter at
tackled with yigor and succeeded in
driving the enemy AZ Tar as Serau-
court ie-Grand.
There was heavy artillery fghting
between the Somme and the Disc. South
of the Disc further detachments cross
ed the Aillette. There was intermittent
cannonading in the hill region.
Progress Near Scissors.
North of scissors We made new
progress. 1t is now learned that the
attack made by the enemy against the
Vregny-Chivres front was extremely
violent. The Germans hurled an entire
regiment at a single point. Two Of our
companies of Chasseurs, momentarily
isolated. succeeded after violent fight
ing in disengaging themselves and re-
turning with prisoners. The losses in
ficted on the enemy in these fruitless
attacks were very heavy.
Several surprise attacks of the en-
emy northwest Of Rheims. near Mai
son-de-Champagne, in Avocourt wood
and in the region of St. Mihiel were
repulsed by our fire.
"A German pursuit airplane. an Alba
tross. was brought down yesterday in
our lines in the region of Vezelise."
Germans React Vigorously.
The Germans now are reacting vigor-
ously, but the entente allies continue
their advance. more slowly on account
of the inclement weather but never
theless surely. Military critics here
consider it evident that the energy of
mans beyond the points wherA they
planned to halt their retreat. ard that
the invaders now are showing nervous
ness over the safety of their principal
lines.
Reports from the front show that
the invaders are offering most ,strenu-
Gus resistance and enduring heavy
losses in their efforts to hold the main
points on the LilIeLaon line. Their
energies are particularly dire0ed at
defending the approaches to Chmbrai
on their right flank and stopping the
dangerous French advance to tie left.
north of scissors, in the direction of
Anizy Here the French threaten to
outflank the German main positions at
st. Gobain.
Severe Fighting in Prospect.
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg also IS
exerting his greatest strength to Srevent
the allies closing in on st. Quentin and
La Fere but so far without Success.
There is every indication of tEs most
severe fighting in the immediate future.
The last batch of repatriated French
from the Somme region who hive ar
rived here agree that the Germafs have
established a defensive line funning
through Cambria, st. Quentin. la Fere
and Laon. One of the refugees ,atd:
For several months past the Germans
have been concentrating in the ntaghbor-
hood OF this line. particularly between
ST. Quentin. Cambria and Guise. All
civilians deported from northern France
and Belgium were IOrcSu " CRAZY oul
military works feverishly constructed.
They were compelled to labor under
terrible threats. The Germans con-
structed a completed new system of rail-
roads and dug deep, shellproof shelters.
Localities south of the line were
evacuated and the great
er number of the inhabitants sof the
towns and villages We're repatriat9d, only
men and women capable of working be-
ing held. None of the people in st
Quentin or Laon were repatrfatet, how
ever On the contrary, the Germans
drew a Gordon around these towfs and
the most severe measures were taken
in recent months to prevent any one
from either entering or leaving them.
British Drive Slow.
LONDON. March 23-The enemy's re-
s,stance is increasing along our whole
front from west of st. Quentin to south
Of Arras. says the official report from
British headquarters in France last
night. Heavy snowstorms during the
day added to the difficulties of our ad-
vance"
I'VE carried out a successful raid yes
terday afternoon northeast of .Arras
and took a few prisoners. The enemy
to counter attack across an
open and suffered severe casualttes,
"A small hostile party suoceeoeo IN
our trenches early thao nesnr
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