Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-04-02
BIG DRIVE ALMOST
AT A STANDST|LL
Gen. Pershing Reports
Situation Improved
But Gives No In
formation of Move
ment of American
Troops

Troops
While the advance OF the German
armies in Picardy has come almost
TO halt. there has been savage fight
ms on the extreme western edge OF
the battle zone. Encounters in which
large forces have been engaged have
occurred north OF Moreuil. but there
seems to he no decided advantage by
the Teutonic invaders. They claim
to have taken heights and to have
carried wood in advance of their
line near Moreuil but the British say
they have driven back the enemy
elsewhere i'll this sector.
The French lines further south
have stood firm against savage as
saults, especially in the region Of
Montdidier and east of that place
along Il part of the line which was
subjected to a terrific strain for two
days last week. In n number Of Sec
| tors, the French have surged forward
and taken hard earned ground from
the Germans and have established
| their line soidly along the Disc river.
The expected Allied counter offensive
| has not yet come. but the Germans
who are reported to be entrenching
along the French front evidently eX-
pect it there The elements have been
work in delaying the German adj
lvance. Rains are reported along the
| French front and British fronts. Wet
i weather if continued would handicap
further advance of the Germans and
| be of infinite value to the Allies, who
are moving their forces and supplies
over solid earth instead of ground
which has been churned into con-
dition where every step is beset by
difficulties.
! The chief German efforts apparently
| have been in the region Of Moreuil and
Albert. Around these places there has
been stern fighting with the Germans
! hun ling their fighting men at the Allied
lines in serried ranks which have been
moved down by artillery, ma chine gun
and rifle fire. The effort in the Moreuil
region is considered as being an attempt
to reach the Paris-Amiens railroad.
which is four or five miles distant Tho
! railroad which cut at Montdidier
was n branch of this Paris-Amiens road.
! but its possession means little TO the
Germans.
! The beginning Of April. month
( whose dates are written large on the
, pages of American history, finds tina
soldiers of the United States having
taken their places in the zone OF fierceA
lighting. There have. been American
! troops involved in the struggle in Pie
! ardy since the morning of March y.
but Gen Pershing now is leading over
100000 OF his men. just how many is az
Z veg not known. to point assigned ia
them by Cen. Focb, the leader of the Al
led forces i'll France. These men may
even now he in the battle line and
America awaits news from them with
confluence that they will compare wei;
with the veterans Of France and Great .
| Britain.
! A report from Gen. I'ershing to tho
war department states that the situation
along the battle line is improved. lle
did not give any information regardin,
the movement OF his troops.
It is not probable that the German
general staff will be content with the
situation as it stands today. Many b..
lieve that there is in preparation an.
! other giant blow against Italy. Official
reports from Rome say there has been
considerable activity on the Asiago pla-
tteau and along the Piave river and that
in Albania, on the eastern shore Of tho
! Adriatic, Austrians have been repulsed
after an attack on position held by
i the Italia-s.
| British troops in Mcsopotamia have
added new success to their record.
They have progressed to point mid
way between Bagdad and Alepho. I!
the British can reach Alepho and thera
join forces with Gen. Allenby's army
which has been fighting its way north
ward through Palestine. they will be
able to cut off the whole Arabian Pc.
ninsula from the Turks and be in a pc.
sition to meet any Turkish attacks from,
| the troops Of the Sultan which are a.
! present operating in the southern Lii
| toral Of the Black sea.
| The White Star liner Celtic has been
struck by a torpedo while on her way
from Europe to America. 1t is not be.
| lieved she had many Americans on
/ board.
! Russia and Rumania have negotiated
a treaty of peace by which RumaniN
will evacuate any occupied portions %
Bessarabia and also strategic territory
near the mouth Of the Danube. Ger
many has sent q protest to PetrograA
against the sending of Boshevik troops
into Finland. and threatening that II
more are sent there she will take steps
under the provisions Of the RIaateI
Litovsk treaty.