The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-04-05
Hun Advances in Direction of
Hamel and BOis de Vaire and
Gains Some Ground.
THE FRENCH MAKE RAIDS
Berlin Claims Repulse of Four
Allied Attacks Southwest of
Moreuil-Armenians Recap-
ture Erzerun from the Turks

After several days Of comparative
inactivity along the battle front in
Plcardy, bitter fighting has been re
sumed along the western sector of
the salient in the lines of the on
'ente allies. Attacks by the Germans
against the British and French are
admitted TO have yielded some gains
TO the invaders in the critical sec
tors just to the east OF the city of
Amiens
The fighting, according to latest
reports, has been heaviest in the
neighborhood of Hamel, where the
British were forced back slightly.
and in the triangle formed by the
Rivers Luce and Avre, farther to the
south. where the French were forced
TO give ground.
Nothing is known as to the details
OF the battles in these sectors. but
the fact that the Germans have been
IN a degree successful would seem to
indicate that they have succeeded in
| bringing up some of their heaviest
cannon and new divisions with which
10 continue their attempts TO cap
ture Amiens
Heavy Rains Reported.
Reports from the French and Brit
lsh fronts have mentioned heavy
rains, which would mean that the
Germans have been working under a
severe handicap in bringing up
guns, ammunition and supplies to the
front. The battlefield over which
the allies have retreated was left in
a devastated condition. the roads and
bridges being mined by the retreat
ing forces. The lull in the battle for
the last few days probably was caus-
ed by the inability of the Teutons To
move their heavy supply trains over
these roads, together with the neces,
slty OF Teorganizing the shattered
divisions which bore the brunt of the
hghting after they had passed the
hrst held OF tge OF their heavier
guns.
The British, since retaking Avette.
south OF Arras, have not resumed
Their offensive operations, so far as
reported by London, but the German
oihcial statement says that four at
lacks by the entente forces against
the nights southwest of Moreuiu
were repulsed with heavy losses.
mere are no reports OF fighting ex-
cept outpost encounters along the
French lines on the Disc river.
There have been heavy artillery
pom mbardments of British positions on
the Menin road and at passschep-
daele, east and northeast of Ypres
according TO London AS yet. how
ever, there is nothing to foreshadow
an effort by the Germans 10 attack
there. Confronting them are well
fortified lines and high ground held
by the British and il is improbable
that serious attempt to break
through will be made in that sector.
French Raids Successful
On the French front before
Rheims and Verdun raiding opera-
hons have been carried out by The
french, which have been successful
The French report heavy artillery
engagements north of Montdidier.
sector which has witnessed savage
hghting and where the Germans bav.
been foiled in their efforts TO adj.
vance toward the Paris-Amiens rail
road.
Nothing has been reported from
the Italian front and 1t is not likely
that an attack has been launched
there by the Austrians. who have
gathered an enormous army for
possible drive southwark into the
plains OF northern Italy
Driven to take measures for their
defense, the Armenians have organ
lied an army and have recaptured
Erzerum from the Turks, as we'll Az
other points in the neighborhood of
that city.
The landing of German troops in
Finland is apparently going forward,
reports stating that 10000 men have
arrived at Hango, fortified port on