Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-21
GUNSPAvING
WAY FOR BIG
OFFENSIVE?
Most Decisive Stage at
Hand Says Kaiser as
Drive Begins.


British Army Headquarters
in France. March 21, l p M
(By the Associated PresS)-
The Germans today launched n
heavy attack on wide front in
and near the Cambria sector.
This assault bears all the ear
marks OF being the beginning
OF the enemies grand offensive
Berlin, March 2l, (Via Lcn-
dom The artillery battle be-
gan again in full force along
broad stretches OF the western
battle front this morning, army
a headquaSters announced today.
London, March 2I.-"We are
mt the decisive moment OF the
war and one OF the greatest
moments in German history"
said Emperor William in tel
egram to the Rhenish prOvin"
ciaI council, according to a
Central News dispatch from
Amsterdam.
The Germans shortly before
dawn this morning began a
heavy bOmbardment over n
wide section OF the British
front, it is announced OfliciaIly.
The statement follows:
"A heavy bombardment WAS
opened by the enemy shortly be-
fore dawn this morning against
our whole front from the neighbor-
hood Of Vendeul, south of st. Quen-
tin, to the river Scarpe.
"A successful raid was carried
out by us last night in neighbor-
hood of st. Quentin. Thirteen pris-
oners and three machine guns were
brought back by our troops. Pris-
oners also were taken by US in pa
troll encounters southeast OF Mes
sines and in another successfut
raid carried out by us south OF
Houtholst forest.
"a raid undertaken by the enemy
in the neighborhood of Armentieres
was repulsed."
British Army Headquarters In
France, March 81, (By the Asso-
ciated Press, IL A. M "A heavy
bombardment by the enemy OF the
front from short distance below
the Scarpe river to the British
right flank-from east OF Arras To
the region Of LaFere-was begun
at o'clock this morning and was
still continuing at the latest re-
port. At the same hour the Ger
mans began a display of artillery
activity in the Messiles sector. At
o'clock they began a lombard
ment with gas shells along the
Fleurbaix-Armentie sector.
No Infantry Action.
II may be merely coincidence
that a German prisoner stated re-
Gently that an enemy offensive was
to begin March 20 or 81. Numer-
Gus other dates also have been
given. At any rate, no infantry
action had been reported at the
time OF filing this dispatch
For several days it has been in
dicated that the Germans have
completed all their plans and are
ready to begin operations il this be
within the scope OF their program.
The sky was heavily overcast this
morning. Observation from air
planes was extremely difficult.
French Fort Under Fire.
Paris, March 21.-There has been
an intense and sustained lombard
ment of the sectors north and
southeast OF Rheims as well as cn
the Champagne front. the war Of
flee announced today.
Between Caurieres wood and
BezonvauX on the Verduu front the
Germans were driven back in vio-
lent hand to hand fighting.
In Lorraine the Germans suffered
a complete defeat in the region or
Nomeny, sustaining heavy losses
without attaining any success.
Roar Heard ut Dover.
The artillery action on the west
ern front could be distinctly heard
at Dover and other towns Ia the
east coast OF England. The doors
yer, for instance, were continuous
ly shaken by the heavy concus-
sions.
The firing, which was the heavi-
est tha has been heard in this dis
trict from such distance. began
at o'clock this morning and lasted
at brief intervals until Z u. IN.
AT Ramsgate besides the sound
OF cannonading, bright flashes were
seen at sea. while vibrations OF tho
explosions shook the windows and
dislodged tiles from the roofs.
Beginning OF Drhei
From Vendeul, north 70 the river
Scarpe IS a distance or nearly fifty
miles and the beginning by tho
German artillery OF Il heavy bonn
bardment along this wide front
may mean that preparation for the
much advertised German offensive
In the west has been begun. The
preparatory work was about duo
to begin today II the advance an
nouncements were to be taken al
their face value. Judging from tha
news of a day or two ago that a
party OF neutral correspondents
had been invited by the German
high command to start for the west
front on Wednesday to witness the
offensive
May BE a @Felnt."