Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-04-10
NEW DRIVE is INDICATED.
Germans Open "Drnmfirc," Seeming
ly Preliminary to Attack.

New 4Ork, April S.--Germany ap-
parently is preparing for another big
effort on the wide battle front in
Northern France. Heavy drumfire,
such as usually precedes an attack,
Is reported along extensive sectors
held by the British, while the Paris
war office also announces violent ar
tillery actions along the French
front
The most intensive German fire
seems to be In progress south Of the
Somme, where the direct drive to-
wards Amiens is on, and north of
the Scarpe river. towards the British
left flank. In the Somme sector the
British have evidently been trying to
better their position in anticipation
Of the next German push, and Field
Marshal Haig reports to-day a slight
Of the Sonme, east of Vaire-Sous-
Corbie.
The increase in the artillery fire
north of the Scarpe river may mean
| g. AohO"oi W IHS SOl VI IhS'
thrust towards Arras, which broke
down utterly earlier in the battle
against the southern approaches to
Vimy ridge. They have shown their
intense anxiety to push forward
their lines in the northern part of the
battle area to diminish the danger Of
their salient to the south In an allied
counter blow, but have found the
British line virtually immovable all
along the front from Albert north
ward
Battle May Move Nortfward.
A still further extension Of the bat
tie northward- may be indicated, as
we'll, in the beginning of heavy at
tack with gas shells upon the British
lines on the emile front between
Lens and La Bassee canal and east Of
Armentieres, dozen miles north Of
La Bassee.
The Germans are likewise pound
ing the French line south Of the
Disc, the extreme allied right, on the
present active fighting front. The
French have retired from their dam
gerous salient here, however, and are
reported we'll established in positions
which had been prepared along the
Ailette river, which offers an excel
lent holding point.
From Arras to the Somme the Brit
ish line still stands as it did ten days
ago The latest enemy attempt to
attack was made in the region Of
Bucquoy, 20 miles north Of the Som
me, but both efforts were broken up
by the British artillery fire. Imme-
diately south Of the Somme there has
been only local fighting, with no
change in the position of the battle
front.
Gen. Petain's men still maintain
their splendid defense east of the
Amiens-Paris railway. The Germans
have tried to advance north Of the
Amiens-Roye road in the region Of
Hangard, but the French artillery
fire was sufficient 20 break up the at
tack.
Berlin Claims Progress.
Berlin claims further advances in
the region OF COucy and around the
lower forest Of Comcy. No mention
of lighting here Is made in Paris.
South Of Chauny the ground is low
and marshy, especially along the
Disc river and the Disc canal. Fol-
embray, 65 miles northeast of Paris,
and Pierremande, reported captured
by Berlin, are on the lowland be-
tween the forest of Coucy and the
heights north Of the Aisne.
Whether the German attacks on
the north between the Disc and
Coucy are designed as feint to
draw French attention from more
vital point, or are the beginning Of a
strong effort to force the French back
to the Aisne, remains for develop
ments to show. Up to the present
the Germans have only gained the
marshy ground along the Disc and
the low-lying ground between
Chauny and Coucy, as we'll as the
| lower forest of Coucy, which was
virtually denuded of trees in the
German retreat OF March, 1917.
Facing them are the heights on the
line running south of Noyon,
through Coucy to Anizy, and thence
across the Ailette to the famous
Chemin-des-Dame sector.