Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-04-23
HEAVY GUNS ROARING
ALONG WHOLE FRONT
FROM LYS To SOMME
Berlin Claims Capture of 1873
Americans Who Win Signal
Victory Over Huns in Their
First Big Battle

First Big Battle
LONDON, April 22-The lombard
ment of Amiens has been heavily renew
ed according to a dispatch today from
the British front. Three additional hits
have been made on the famous Amiens
cathedral
NEW YORK, April 22-(Summary OF
European Cables to the Associated
Press.)-While awaiting the next Ger
man blow now momentarily expected.
Field Marshal HAig is taking advantage
OF the comparative lull to strengthen his
lines in various spots
Both north and south of the Somma
and on the Lys battle front the British
defensive positions were improved IN
local operations last night. Similarly.
the Germans made an attempt to push
forward their lines in the Mesnil region,
north Of Albert, in which sector they APP
parent1y are preparing for some more,
important movement. The British offer
ed a sharp defense, however, and foiled
the enemy effort
Heavy artillery fire is in progress ON
so many parts OF the front that little
indication is afforded by this as to the
point selected by the Germans for their
renewed thrust Naturally they may be
expected to make further efforts to ex-
tricate themselves from the pocket into
which they have forced themselves
along the Lys southwest Of Ypres.
Thus. last night the enemy was reported
Smelling the British positions In Nieppe
wood whence lies the route to Haze
brouck, the railway center from which
it is well nigh vital for the British TO
hold him.
There has been no new development
in the region Of Ypres, where the Bel
gians stopped turning movement last
week, preventing the British from being
fianked out OF the Ypres positions. The
nature of the ground and the DISPOSE
ton of the opposing forces make it seem
probable that a repetition of the attempt
is to be looked for The situation In
the Somme region is being for the mo-
ment even more closely watched than
that along the Franco-Belgian border
to the north Field Marshal Haig re-
ports heavy Smelling of the British lines
on both sides of the Somme and the
Ancre and the correspondents are send
ing word Of German preparations for
a movement Of some nature between
Arras and Amiens, within which the
gion under bombardment is located.
Heavy Guns on Somms
The enemy is known to have brought
up some Of the heaviest guns to the
Somme battlefield, where Aniens is his
objective but the entente artillery a.
matching these and hampering the Ger
mans severely in their preparations for
attack. Last night the French repulssd
German raids along the Avre, in this
region.
Having withstood a violent Ger
man infantry attack in force the
American troops on the American sec
tor northwest of Toul have driven the
enemy from the positions he gained
Saturday and have restored the position
completely. The main positions held
out against the enemy but he occupied
advanced elements from which he was
elected Sunday by the Americans in
counter attack To the east the French
lines also have been re-established. In
dfcations are that the Germans intended
to make the attack the start of an ef-
fort to separate the American and
French troops and, perhaps, wipe out
the American sector. General Persh-
ing's men, however, fought desperately
and only retired from Seicheprey be-
fore overpowering numbers. The enemy
was not able to hold the village and
soon evacuated it.
Americans Regain Line
Germans from the occupied advanced
posts the enemy did not attack again
and Sunday was comparatively quiet
east of st. Mihiel. The German of
fensive, which persisted throughout the
day and into the night, was preceded
by most violent artillery fire, but the
Americans were undiSmayed and stuck
to their guns and trenches to meet the
enemy storming troops. Two German
airpIanes were brought down by Ameri-
can machine gunners.
Berlin, in its official statement, de-
scribes Saturdays action lengthily. Ad-
mission is made that the fighting was
severe and it IS claimed that 1873 Ameri-
cans, including five officers and % ma
chine guns, were captured.
Heavy losses. it is said, were inflicted
by the Germans. That the effort failed
of its purpose is indicated by the an
nouncement that the attackers returned
to their own positions under cover Of
night Berlin makes no mention of
French troops having been engaged in
this region.
Meanwhile French endorsements are
pouring in behind the British lines.
French troops are now with Field Mar
shall Haig's men on both the northern
and southern legs of the salient south
of Ypres.
Today the German offensive begins
It's second month without having sepa
rated the British and French and with
the British army still intact. Where
the next blow will fall is uncertain, but
the allies are prepared TO meet it as
they nave met the others.
German Raids RepuISed
DIV Eronnh Moor Phoin1c