The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-04-09
SKIES OVERCAST;
PREPARATIONS
OF FOE HALTED
Line From North Of Arras ID
North Of scissors Under Fire.
Infantry Yet Immobile.
ACTIVITY DEVEL0P ED
On Front From Labassee to
South Armentieres.
Hostile Shelling Heavy on Brit
ish Sector Near villers-
Brettonneux.
ACTIVITY DEVELOPED
leY Assooiatsd Prsss,l

With the British Army IN
France, April 9.--(By the Assc-
oiated Prsss.)--Thers has been no
change in the situation, according
TO the latest reports this morning
from the battle front. The sky 10
heavily overcast with iow-hsno.
ing clouds and ths earth blanketsd
with ground mists. Rain 10 falling
occasionally, as Il did ysstsrday
and during last night. making the
battle-ground undesirable terrain
for operations.
London, April o.-Thc German
artillery developed great activity
early this morning on the British
front on the line from Labasscc
canal to south Of Armenticrcs,
according to today's war Office
announcement.
The statement reads;
early this morning the enemy's ar
tillery developed great activity on the
front ees aiding from Labassca canal
to south or 'Arrncntleres.
elsewhere on thc British front cx-
oept for heavy hostile shciiing In the
nolgbborhood OF xilIcrs- Hretoneux and
Merioourt Liable. there was nothirg
special TO report.
In preparation for another
heavy infantry attack against the
allied line in Picardy, In an at.
tananN IA rAask Arx.tans na~.
man puns Of all caIibrss are roar
Ing In thundsrous tones along the
front OF more than 100 miles from
north OF Arras to north OF Seis.
sons The entire countryside 10
said TO be rocking from the heavy
dstonstiors, but no infantry action
has yet developed.
Weather cnseks Plan.
The Germans have encountered
unfsvorsbIe weather for the big at
tack they apparently were oortsm-
plating against the British front,
and no infantry action had de-.
veloped when the reports were
dispatched from headquarters this
forenoon. Neither was thsrs any
movement OF the infantry along the
French front. probably for the same
reason.
Tho violent artillery battle. however.
y being continued In many sectors on
10Th fronts. notably In the case of the
British along the line OF approximately
fifteen miles from Labassee canal To
lbovc Armontieres. Just to the north
u the present battle area. II was re-
'ortcd yesterday 10 be under a heavy
with German gus shells.
md the enemy has continued his
ounding of the area. presumably with
Ugh explosives as well.
Although the Germans may be con-
emplating nm attack here with the
bJect OF diSlocating the northc q. sec
Or Of the British line II possible, tho
seem that the lombard
nent is more of a demonstration than
nything else, with the object OF dis
racting British attention and conceiy-
tsy drawing reserves from behind the
iore important front 10 the south.
Directly East Amisns.
In the Sommo region the Germans
re heavily shelling the British line dt-
ectly east OF Amiens. on the seven
lille front north from Villers- Breton
cuS TO Maricourt Liable.
The principal artillery battles In the
rench area were around the Montdi-
Ter salient Ind eastward OF Noyon.
heso struggles of tho big guns were
arried over from yesterday. when the
lcrcased activity began 10 develop.
The French apparently are complet-
u their withdrawal south OF the Disc.
} The west OF L.aon. where they have
hde their line for strategic reasons
inform In general To the Ailette river
alley. linking II up with the old line
'utheast OF Courcy-l Chateau.
The Germans. who advanced as the
rench operation was In progress. were
'pt constantly covered by the French
'tillery and sustained heavy losses
Especially severe has been the Ger
an fire around Bucquoy. north OF Al
n: south OF the Somme and between
ontdidier and Noyon. Last week
c Germans failed In mass attacks to
netrate The British and French de-
nses north and south OF the sectors
rectly east OF Amiens aud thus ex-
nd the apex OF their wedge. The tre-
sndous blow going on doubtless Is the
OF heavy attacks probably
along the line from Arras 90 Noyon.
iucquoy. which is south OF Arras. Is
the northern end OF the sector which
p british defended 80 valiantly last
ek The Germans must widen the
~ of their wedge along the Scntine
4 it Is believed they again will at
npt Ia do Il BY attacks IN the B0S-
%. ara