Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1918-04-11
BY Associated Press.

Another determined German blow in
the great battle for Amiens is being
struck today against the British in the
Somme valley, almost directly east of
the city, from which the Germans at
this point are about 10 miles in distant.
The attack on the center of the line
comes after check of the German left
wing Thursday night III its powerful
thrust at the French line between
Montdidier and the Avre and the fail
ure OF the German right Yesterday and
last night to make more than a feeble
impression upon the British positions
north Of the Somme.
The fighting in the southerly area
has resolved Itself into q violent ar
tillery battle. following which the prob
abilities are that the Germans will
make another effort TO advance from
the positions in which they have
pinned by the French. NO infantry &C
ton occurred in this sector last night
except on the British front just north
of the Luce. at which river the French
and British lines connect The Brit
ish improved their positions by q cunt
er attack.
In the north the determined at
tempt of the Germans yesterday to
enlarge the upper side of their salient
SlIctSGiltu ollts " Il SliSlA NCSASC olpiS
the Ancre. near Dernancourt and
struck a rock-ribbed British defense at
Albert 1t was continued late into the
evening but despite the constant at
tacks by olumns Of inconsiderable
strength the enemy was unable to
make any more important gains that
scored in this day time effort.
The early advices on today's fighting
made it seem likely that the operation
would be an important one advancing
from Vairewood, close to the Somnle,
the Germans pushed in dense waves to-
VAR Corbie, lying in the narrow strip
between the Ancre n the So1nrne near
the junction of these rivers. The sd
vance appeared to nave as its OBJECT
i've the gaining of the Albert-Amiens
roads. which runs in this sector just
to the northwest of Corbie.
General Foch, the ommander in chief
and under whose orders more than 100,
900 American troops are ready to aid
the French and British. declares that
the boche tidal wave is broken. al
is going we'll" he adds and expresses
confidence in the future. AS proof OF
his statement is the fact that in the
past two days the enemy has made only
slight gains on a 3S-mile front anG
these have been equalized in part by
Franco-British advances at some
points.
French resistance broke the German
storm Thursday south or the SOrnme
and north of the river the British or
Friday showed the same stern mettle
before furious assaults. The sudden
switch in the attack to the front Of &c
miles north Of the Somme may have
been made to catch Field Marshal Hais
mapping, but If so, the attempt was
futile. AS In the attack against thu
Franco-British front, the Germans sus-
tained heavy casualties In their fruit
less efforts against the British.
Bernancourt and Albert along the
Ancre were the positions attacked mos
heavily by the enemy. while a strong
assault was made near Moyenneville
20 miles nC1th OF the Somme.
For many hours the enemy surget
against the British line, but succeeded
only in gaining a foot hold in the fore.
most trenches at Dernancourt. South.
west of Albert a British counter attacl
drove the enemy from the front line
positions he had entered there.
At Moyenncvillc the enemy wa
thrown back with .oss. North of Mesni
the British launched an attack ana
captured 100 prisoners.
In vigorous counter attacks thu
French have driven the Germans from
some positions north Of Montdidier. A
Mail!y Raineva], where he had gains
Thursday, was driven back. At Can
tigny. the French attackers gained ant
held the outskirts of the town. On tn
Lassigny-Noyon sector the French alst
made a slight advance. There has bear
lively artillery activity here as wei
as around Verdun.