Arizona republican., 1918-03-22
Assault in and Near Cambrai

Assault in and Near Cambrai
 BRITISH ARMY HEADQUARTERS IN FRANCE, March 21, (Afternoon, by the Associated Press)-The Germans his forenoon launched heavy attack against the British lines over a wide front in and neS' the Cambrai sector, and the assault bears all the earmarks of being the beginning of the enemy s much heralded grand offensive.
 Hard fighting is proceeding from a point north of Lagnicourt southward to Gauche wood, just below Gouzeaucourt. The attack was preceded by a heavy bombardment from guns of all calibres, and the duel between the opposing heavy batteries has been rocking the country side for hours.
 The Germans have employed gas shells freely and a constant stream of high velocity shell has been breaking with frightful concussion far back of the British lines.
 Bombardment at 5 O'Clock
 The bombardment began in earnest at o'clock this morning, and about five hours later the enemy forces hurled themselves on the British front line trenches north of Lagnicourt anC Louveral, the latter place lying west of Boursies.
 At the same time other German fore. es advanced behind smoke barrag, along the ridge running northwarC from Gouseaucourt. It may be sai( that the attack in this region was by nc means unexpected by the British anC that they had made great preparation! | to meet the onslaught.
 The two vast forces have been locked in a bitter struggle over this wid front for hours. The bombardmen was of a most terrific nature, and fin ally the infantry drove forward agains numerous points in the Cambrai sec had extended from point below St Quentin, north to the river Scarpe. an, at last reports sanguinary fighting wa in progress as far south as the regiol of Hargicourt and as far north a Bullecourt
 Try to Drive Two Wedges
 The early stages of the battle woul seem to indicate that the enemy wa trying to drive a wedge on both side of the Cambrai salient and pinch it of A keen struggle has been proceeding i the neighborhood of Bullecourt an Lagnicourt and south of the salier
 
 The British had been looking for thj attack today. Not only have prisoner declared that yesterday or today woul mark the beginning of the offensive o this front, but there were abundar signs of an enemy smash against thi sector. which was the scene of the Ia, great battle in the British theater. Ths the Germans were as thoroughly ore pared as possible was we'll known. an as consequence, the British had take extensive steps to meet the blow.
 First on 16-Miie Front
 The first infantry fighting reporte !n what appears to be the inception the great German offensive has take place along a curved line extendir rom Lagnicourt to Gauche wood. ju south of Gouzeaucourt. This line about 16 miles in length.
 The Germans launched their fir assault along a rise of land runnir north from Gauche wood. This ridt extends about three miles to the nortI 'ast and ends near the southern CT of the village of Gonnelieu.
 This attack was apparently directt at the angle formed with the form British line by the new British lin, as they were established after u sudden offensive led by General Byr on November 22, 1917. The fishtir extends around the arc of circ into which the British lines we pushed after the German counter O fensive, and continues for a distan of about four miles to the nortl