Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-29
Hs|G CHECKS HUNS,
REPULSES ATTACKS,
HOLDS LINE INTACT
French Beat Off Heavy Assaults
of Foe Along Oise
River.
MAY CHANGE COMMAND

The gigantic conflict over the ground
between the Scarpe and OiSe rivers has
entered into new phase. Repulscd in
their efforts to break through in the
center, the Germans have turned their
attention 10 the wings of the salient in the
Allied lines but heavy fighting continues
along most Of the 81 mile front.
On the northern flank which has been
extended slightly across the Scarpe, Field
Marshal IIaig, although giving some
ground has Tcpulsed attack after attack
and has held most of his positions, intact,
especially between Boiscletix and the
Scarpc On the southern flank the Ger
man gains around Montdidicr have been
offset by French offensive movement
south of Noyon and the rcpulse of heavy
enemy attacks along the Oise.
Attention is divided between the Ger
man attack along the Scarpe toward the
Arras and the probability that the French
attack is the beginning OF counter
offensive on u large scale The wings
of the German salient were its weak point
and when the Allied troops checked the
onr,ish and held it 10 small gains at great
cost, rs they have done for two days, the
enemy has changed its tactics.
Arras is ono Of the strongest points on
the British line and is guarded on the
north hy Nimy Ridge and on the south
hy WaiIlv Ridge, where there are strong
hill positions to the east. From these
positions the British artillery could bonn
bard the rear Of the German lines toward
the Sommc and prevent the Germans from
widening the salient toward the north,
while at tho same time giving the British
a point from which to launch counter
offensive.
The German attack along the Scarpe
nav mean either n fcInt to draw British
attention, an attempt 10 take the high
ground around Arras or an effort To offset
q British counter move toward Cambria.
" hatcvCr its purpose the attacks con
tinue in strength. with the British with
standlng the enemy efforts Caliantlv
French troops since their entrance into
the battle last Saturday have made n
courageous defence, but none WAS more
cOurage0tiS than that OF Montdidicr
Driven from tho town and some distance
westward by overwhelming numbers. the
French countCr-attackCd and captured
and held three towns west Of Montdldicr
Meanwhile another French force struck
The German line south of Noyon hard
blow and pushed II back along front Of
~lN miles for a distance Of more than one |
mile This gain not only mcnaccs the |
southern leg Of the salient but also the |
German gains around Nontdidier where |
the cEcmy has driven small and pre- |
carious wedge
East Of Noyon. IN counter part Of their /
effort along the Scarpc, the enemy Is
attempting 10 force 3 passage of the Disc |
General Pctaln's defence, however, has |
been ton strong, and the Germans have
been thrown back with heavy losses |
4 frnor,c xrprfa MI IN this
sector early In the week
London newspapers hint joint Franco
British command on the western front. !
II Is declared General Foch. commander !
OF the Allied reserve army Will be given an |
important role under the new arrange |
mcnt.
TN the other battle fronts there has |
been no change Northwest Of Toul the |
American artillery keeps up its strong |
bomhardment Of the enemy lines hut there /
has been no infantry action
The Germans arc employing a new
method Of attack, the most conspicuous |
feature Of which Is smoke cloud camou- |
haCc. under cover OF which successive
waves OF attacking forces advance in
rchcions. After short and intense. artil-
lery preparation the first wave, armed with
automatic rifles, machine guns and new
cannon mounted on low carriages for
short range fire, Is sent forward firing at q
range Of 1000 yards. II is ordered to fire
IN the reserves, regardless of the opposing
iorces night at hand, which the succeed
nC waves must account for The task az
,he leading troops Is 10 increase the ad-
vantage of surprise by preventing paralvz-
ng counter attacks on the part Of the re-
serves.
The result Of these tactics usually Is
hat the first wave IS almost entirely
wiped out. The second wave then passes
.hcad, 10 be followed by the third and so
N. Thus the oncoming waves have
succeeded one another during the eight
days Of the great conflict