The Washington herald., 1918-04-08
ALLIES HOLD UPPER
HAND IN BIG BATTLE
War Departments Weekly Review Says Stra-
tegic Positions Held Assure Successful De-
fense-Germans Took Ten Days to Cover
Ground They Expected to Capture in Two.

/ number OF serious attempts to en-
circle Arras, All attacks in this
sector have been beaten on by the
British and the important Arras
defenses hold Arm In spite of all
the efforts made by the enemy to
weaken the British line In this re-
gion.
Allied aircraft has been particu-
larly active throughout the week.
not only In maintaining superior
ity In the air and keeping the skies
clear of hostile craft. but more es-
pecially in bombing enemy dumps,
conveys. trains and rail heads.
British escadrilles did fine work
in dispensing German units going
into action with machine guns.
A number of American transport
sections have taken an active part
in the battle and the American
aviation service is cooperating
with the British.
There was no unusual activity
along other sectors in the West. An
intensification of hostile lombard
ment in the vicinity of Passchen-
deale Is noted.
Our own forces engaged have
been relatively busy. Under the
cover of a heavy barrage. the en-
emy raided one of our outposts in
the Woevre area and the increase
of artillery activity is noted In this
sector.
Our troop units have taken up a
new position in the line and are
occupying well prepared entrench-
ments along the Meuse hills south
of Verdun.
At italian Front
In the Italian theater there has been
an increase in hostile activity. Live
ly shelling took place along the Ash
ago Plateau. Italian batteries effec-
lively broke up enemy parties in va
rious areas.
Reports continue to be received in
| dicating that the enemy contemplates
! launching an offensive thrust. The
Austrian armies with the exception
| OF a few units operating in the
Ukraine or in the Western area, are
now in the Italian theater. 1t is pos
sible that the enemy will initiate an
offensive along a broad front in
cluding the entire northern sector
from the upper reaches OF the Piave
" tHo Adhc OL HdTud.
The Secretary OF War has conclud-
ed a visit to the Italian front.
In the Eastern theater various local
conflicts took place. In the Arctic
| region the Bolsheviki are preparing
10 defend the ice-free port of Kola
and the Murmansk coast from the
Finno-German forces which are be-
lieved to be advancing.
II EfrlapA Dad "a he
| suffered reverses at the hands Of the
White Guards who are assisted by the
| Germans. A large additional force of
| would appear that a serious effort is
being made by the enemy to gain a
firm foothold in Finland.
Germans Advance In Russia.
! In the Ukraine the Germans still
continue to advance and the occu-
! patton of various centers is report
ed.
The Turks are busy in the Black
Sea area and. are attempting to oc-
cupy in the Crimea.
In the trans-CuuCasus the Turks
are encountering some opposition
on the part of the Armenian and
Georgian populations. The Armen-
ians are putting up a strong resist
ance to a further Turkish advance
and fighting is taking place in the
region of Kars and Batum.
At Vladivostok a japanese land
ing party has been sent ashore from
the cruisers lying in the harbor.
British forces in Palestine have
| concluded a very successful enter
prise. having for it's objective the
destruction of the HedjaE Railway
| line.
The raiding column advanced
across the Jordan twenty-one miles
to Amman. The Turks put up a
stiff resistance. but were defeated
by the British, who withdrew after
capturing 700 prisoners and war
material. Several miles of track
were destroyed.
In Mesopotamia, British successes
along the Euphrates are increasing
A point eighty-three miles north
west of Hit has been reached and
the number of prisoners taken now
exceeds 5000.