Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17
NEW GERMAN ARMY
|SCREATED IN WEST
Gen. Won GalMitz Leads
Group-British Active on
Arras Front.
GREAT FLYING ACTIVITY

By the Associated Press
The military situation on the Franco
Belgian front has shown no marked
change in the last twenty-four hours.
The most notable development was the
increasing activity by the British on
the old Arras front, from Arras itself as
far south as st. Quentin. reported by
Berlin. Apparently the British long
range guns were doing effective work
some distance behind the German lines
in Flanders as well. for the German
statement complains OF casualties
among the population of Menin and
Hauuin-more than five miles in ad-
vance Of the British front southeast OF
Ypres-caused by British shell fire and
airplane bombs.
Both German and French reports
show that heavy artillery dre has been
in progress in the Verdun region. and
batteries near Rheims. on the Lorraine
front and in Alsace. No change in the
situation in the American sectors IN
Lorraine has been indicted, although
Paris reports German raid in the
vicinity of Flirey, near the American
sector northwest of Toul, which was re-
pulsed. ;s.aN6
Interesting Possibilities
Interesting possibilities arc suggested
by the revelation in Saturdays German
official statement that a new German
army group has been created on the front
in northern France. 1t is under command
Of Gen. Won Galtwitz, an officer previously
prominent in the Russian and siberian
campaign and apparently transferred to
in command of the Verdun sector, included
within the front occupied by the German
crown princes group.
The German statement is SO worded that
the boundaries OF the district under Gen
Won Gallwitz command cannot be de-
termined. even approximately. That part
Of the front running east and southeast
to the Swiss border from about the VI
cinity of Laon. on the Aisne front, had
previously been divided between the Ger
man crown prince and Grand Duke Al
brecht of Wurttemburg. The crown
princes front included the Aisne, Cham
payne and Verdun regions. while AL
brecht's started in the St Mil1iel region
and extended to the end of the line The
new Won Gallwitz group is indicated as
resting between the crown prince and
Abrecht groups
Americans May Face Him.
If Won Gallwitz has taken over any
appreciate part Of Albrechts sector
it follows that the Americans, in the
region northwest of Toul. at least. and
IuneviIle, are facing the troops under
this commander. 1t is possible. how
ever. that Won Gallwitz has been given
Jurisdiction over portion OF the
crown prinoes former 'front.' either to
conduct an offensive operation in the
Ver1un sector or to allow the crown
prince to concentrate his energies for
a move in the Champagne sector in
which some Of the French writer's have
been predicting a German offensive,
the Rheims region being deemed one
of the probable sections of terrain for
the effect.
British Bomb Zweibrucken.
LONDON. March ia British air
squadron bombed Zweibrucken today,
says the British official report on av-
iation issued tonight The report says:
Further military detectives in Ger
many were attacked by our airplanes
today. Fourteen heavy projectiles and
ten lighter bombs were dropped on bar
racks, munition factories and the rail-
way station at Zweibrucken. Explo-
sions were seen all around the railway
station. Our airplane formation was
i attacked by hostile scouts and anti
aircraft guns but all our machines re-
turned safely.
"a great deal of air fighting took place
Friday east of the lines along the whole
front. Over twelve tons of bombs were
dropped on hostile rest billets. ammuni-
raid was carried out on important rail-
way SidingS at HlrSon-
Twelve Hostile Filters Downed.
Twelve hostile machines were brought
down and seven others were driven down
out of control. None of our machines is
missing.
After dark, aerial activity was con-
tinued by our night flying machines until
early in the morning. Eight and one-half
tons of bombs were dropped on the
enemys rest billets."
Raid Is Successful.
LONDON. March 16.-The Official
statement issued by the war ofice to-
night says:
1--WE carried out a successful raid this
morning northeast of La Vacquerte. Hos
tile artillery activity was shown south.
west of Cambria in the neighborhood OF
the Scarpe river, in the Lens district on
both sides of La Bassee canal and in
the MensineS sector.
east of Queant hostile ammunition
dunn was set on fire by our artillery.
Guns Busy About Verdun.
PARIS, March 16.-Active artillery
fighting on the Verdun front and in the
Woevre is reported in todays official
communication the text OF the STATE
ment reads:
"There was intermittent activity by
the artillery on the right bank OF the
Meuse (Verdun front) and in the
Woeyre A German raid in the sector
of Fnrey was repulsed.
1.-The night was calm everywhere
else"
German Official Report.
BERLIN, March 16, via London (Brit-
ish admiralty per Wireless Press)-The