New-York tribune., 1918-03-22

withdrawn on one part of the line
which was very lightly held. This was
nothing more than was expected, and
was in accordance with instructions.
There was nothing in the nature of a
surprise about the attack"
Mr.. Ronar Law reminded the House
that he had given warning a week ago
that if such an attack occurred the
attacking party would gain certain
amount of ground, and the govern
ment's information so far did not lead
to the belief that anything beyond
that had happened.
al am sure that with the knowl
edge beforehand of what has happened
in similar attacks on either side" con-
tinued Mr.. Bonar Law, "the House and
country will not be unnecessarily
alarmed by information of that kind
Our staff and the Versailles Council
naturally have been considering what
might happen in the event of an at
tack. And I may tell the House that
this attack has been launched on the
very part of our line we were informed
would be attacked, if an attack were
untiertaken at all.
British Were Ready
II may say that only three days ago
we received information at the Cabinet
from Headquarters in France that they
had definitely arrived at the conclusion
that an attack would be launched i'm
mediately, and as they were prepared
to meet it the country need have no
cause for anxiety"
Great Britain awaited the news or
the battle with the greatest intensity.
The preliminary bombardment was dis
tinctly heard along the east coast OF
England, indicating that the German
concentration of artillery was on
scale greater than anything hitherto
seen.
The Germans were favored by cloudy
weather, which prevented the British
from using their aviators to full adj
vantage Yesterday, too, according TO
an official statement issued tonight,
tivity. although after dark the British
liers dropped 800 bombs on hostile air
dromes southwest of Tournai and a
large ammunition depot northeast >ot
st. Quentin.
Tremendous Battle Line
The line of to-day's attack took in
the entire width of the Battle OF the
Somme. fought in the fall of 1875;
the Germans in the spring of 1917. the
battlefield of Cambria, where the Brit,
ish and Germans successlvely gained
victories last fall, and part of the scene
of the Battle of Arras, which took
place in the spring of 1917.
The centre of the front attacked
forms a salient in the British line and
is therefore more open to assault. The
salient. however, is not so pronounced
as it was when the Germans checked
Byng's offensive last fall.
In their feints against the French the
Germans claim q success to the north
east of Verdun, where, according to
Berlin statement, the enemy penetrated
the French lines near the village of
Ornes early Thursday morning. The
Bavarians, who made up the raiders,
the statement asserts, pressed forward
as far as the Brule ravine and captured
a battalion staff and more than 24O
prisoners, including twenty officers.
Paris officially states that all the
ground lost has been recaptured.
Beaten Back at Rheims
Near Rheims the Germans attempted
another incursion, but with less sue
cess. The French artillery smothered
the attack and inflicted severe losses.
Although the Americans have not yet
Deen attacked as part OI tHe oueHSlVe,
observers here say it is fair to pre-
sumo that the enemy is contemplating
a serious move against them on the
theory that being fresh troops unused
to battle they could not withstand the
strain of a great offensive. The attack
might have the nature of an attempt
at surprise with very little artillery
preparation.
On other parts of the Lorraine front
not held by Pershing's men there have
been several sharp encounters. The
enemy suffered complete defeat"
says to-day Paris official statement,
when detachments attacked near Nom
eny after spirited artillery preparation.
On Wednesday. it is now learned, the
Germans made strong attack in the
region of Brule Wood. in the Woevre.
and entered the French trenches, but
were Immediately driven out