Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-04-27
.TEUTON ASSAULTS IN
MASS BREAK Do " n.
UNDER TERRIFIC FIRE.
British Drive Appears Checked
but Most Violent Attacks
Fail to Shake Grip on Ground
Haig'S Men Have Won

NEW YORK. April 2s-The forty-
third day of the great British offensivsi
and the tenth day of General Nivells's
drive Of his French forces is develop
ing everywhere along the great west,
ern front the fercest fighting of the
war. Germany's army chiefs every
where were hurting great masses of
their men against the French and Brit /
ish today.
Both London and Paris statements,
today were exclusively devoted to mar
ration to the repulse OF the terrific,
counter attacks. British front dis
patches revealed a practical standstiIli
north OF tho Scarpe river, where the
British and Germans were locked in
death grips Haig reported repulse Of
German counter attacks on Gavrelle
General Nivelle's statement revealed
the greatest efforts by German troops
to force back the French wedge which
has cTumbled the southern base of the
Hindenburg line Most violent of all
these violent attacks and the most care
fully organized was the drive south Of
Laon, around Cerny 1t was delivered
on a front Of a mile and a half IN
two powerful smashes-both of which
were. nevertheless. repulsed. The same
effort to relieve Laon from French
pressure was responsible for attacks
on Vauclere plateau and the Ladies
Highway.
The French front withstood other
counter attacks Of varying intensity
along practically its entire line
Tho Germans have resorted to
the terribly costly tactics Of mass
ed attacks and have apparently sue
ceeded in checking the British advance
This partial success has been won. ac-
cording to spectators Of the titantic con-
flict, at a staggering toll Of human life.
1t would seem as If the revolutionary
mutterings which were ominously swell
ing through Europe prior to the incep-
ton OF the great battle were drowned
indications are not lacking that MOI
mentous events are about to occur be-
hind the fighting lines.
The summary adjournment of the
reichstag, when its sittings had barely
opened, is given added significance by
| hints in the German press that the
strike agitation in Germany may burst
forth with renewed violence on May
day, the great international socialist
holiday. A nationwide labor demon
stration IN Sweden is also planned Cor
that day and may have its counter part
in Spain.
No news Of any Importance has come
from Austria in several days, a fact
which has given fresh vigor to the ever
recurrent report OF intents or efforts
on the part of the dual monarchy to seek
a separate peace. No confirmation Of
the reports is available, from any re-
liable source, but there is more definite
tidiDgs Of the status Of affairs in Tur-
key, the third members Of Germany's
imperial triumvirate.
Returning travellers tell appalling
stories of the devastations wrought by
disease and starvation in the Ottoman
empire. They also repeat the off-told
story that the Turkish people are sIckS
at heart over the war and it's entailed
miseries but are kept IN subsection by
the iron hand OF Enver Bey and his Ger
man colleagues.
A striking example Of the rigidity OF
the German censorship Is afforded by
the news that no German newspaper is
allowed to leave the empire without be-
ing passed by the government officials
Wire fences charged with electricity have
also been erected along the German-SwIss
frontier and every possible precaution
has been taken to prevent the details Of
what is transporting within the realms OF
the central powers from reaching the
rest Of the world
Apart from France there are few de-
velopments of Importance in the war the
aters.
The British continue TO drive forward
in Mesopotamia but there is a curious
silence in regard to the Russian armies
IN that region. An attack on a fairly
large scale has been made by the allies
on the Salonili front but there Is moth
ing as yet to indicate whether a general
offensive is planned in this region.
Last nights fighting in the great bat
tie IN the Arras region seems to have
been chiefly in connection with a re-
newed German effort to wrest from the
British the village Of Gavrelle. Through
the capture Of this place on Monday
General Haig pushed q sharp wedge into
the German lines along the Arras-Douai
road. The Germans have sacrificed
thousands of men in attempts to take
it but have failed completely. Last
nights efforts were as fruitless as the
rest. The attacking forces were caught
by the British artillery barrage and
broken UP.
On the Aisne battle front the French
also had to contend with violent Ger
man reactions. Several powerful at
tacks were made IN an attempt to drive
General Nivelle's forces from the plateau
near the observation-disclosures. The Ger
mans lost heavily in the breaking OF
these assaults by the French artillery
fire.