The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-04-03
RESERVES OF
ALLIES ARE
READY FOR
BIG BATTLE
Germans Nervous as Franco
British Reserves Hold Line
Intact-Ayette Taken by
British.
STRA|GRTEN OUT LINE
(By Associated Press)


Local attacks on several points of
the battle front in northern France
yesterday and last night kept both
sides fairly busy in the outpost areas
while back of the lines the prepsra.
tion went on for the renewal of the
engagement. on vast scale to which
the logic OF the situation points.
Fortified by the news that the pow
erful allied reserves are as yet virtu-
ally intact by apparent evidences
OF Teutonic nervousness as the crisis
approaches. Entente opinion views the
outlook hopefully.
The report from the field shows
the allied line as established after the
first German push had spent it's force
holding firmly against newly launched
tentative thrusts here and there
while at twc or three points the Fran.
co-British forces were able to push
back the hostile lines for short dis
tances in Operations to improve the
tactical position.
Take Back Ayettc.
This later process resulted notably
on the British side of the re-occupa
ton of the town of Ayette-on the
front below Arras-which the Ger
mans a few days ago declared have
been cleared of British forces and in
attempting to hold which they had
made heavy sacrifices.
On the French side, the notable
gain was on the southern side of the
Montdidier salient. where the French
positions was appreciably extended
Discuss Speech.
The speech delivered by Count
Czernin, the Austro Hungarian for
eign minister, in which he again toob
up the subject of peace, has already
excited much comment. The address,
it is noted, comes at the moment when
the great Teutonic drive on the west
ern front widely advertised to the
people of the central powers as a
peace offensive" lost its impetus and
has been forced to halt before any.
thing more definite than the occupas
ton of considerable amount of terri
| tory had been accomplished.
Military operations are almost at d
standstill on the more than 80 mile
front from Arras to Chauny, but it is
an ominous calm. At any hour the
storm of battle, quiescent for two days.
may again beat madly over the plain
of Picardy.
Their great attack stemmed and
their countless efforts to find a weak
point in the allied line repulsed with
heavy losses, the German leaders prob
ably are preparing for another plunge
toward Amiens.
Where the next stroke will come is
uncertain, but the Albert ontdidieI
section of the battle line may be select.
ed unless the Germans. convinced that
it is impossible to look for victory On
either side of the Somme, attempt to
! break through at some other point on
the line, where, until now, it has been
comparatively quiet.
Prepare for Attacks. /
The cessation OF the German on
slaughts is welcomed by the British
and French. who are busy preparing
for the next great efforts after their
victorious defense against the stu.
pendous enemy drive. Both armies
are confident that the German efforts
to separate the British and French
fronts will continue to prove fruitless.
There is much significance in the an.
nouncement that the allied reserve
army is still intact. This is the army
of maneuvre of which General Foch
had immediate command and which it
was thought might be used in a coun.
ter-offensive.,
Meanwhile, more than 100000 Amer
ican soldiers, eager for the fray, ara
marching forward to the front 1t Is
announced that American aviation me-
chanics have been assisting the British
airmen on the battle front.
British aviators were very active on
the battle front in France. dropping
seventeen tons of bombs and bringing
down sixteen German airplanes ana
two balloons. The official statement on
aviation issued tonight says that the
night bombing squadrons dropped
bombs on railway stations in the area
behind the German lines.