The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-04-08

rrsnoh positions between chsuny and
AAfsnts. southwest Of la Fere, where
ysetsrday they succeeded In crossing
the river and establishing bridge
head positions. tho Fresh retiring. at
ter exacttng a fearful toll from the
Tsutons. 60 previously prepared de-
sfene<s further southwsrd
Simuits neous;y the Germans have
i started to play the same game In the
eoufh that they played. to their cost
the north. Just as they tried t.
break through az Arras while ham.
meffng the nritish at Albert. they are
now displaying battle signs fsr 20 the
southeast OF La Fers, north OF he
Assne. The object Is 10 Keep the si-
lea reserves continually on the move.
while this battle of the TANKS is IN
progress, o new massing Of forces is
taking place all along the spsar-hasd
Of the German wedge. There the final
stroke 10 about to be struck. aimed at
separating the French from the British
Srsnfes which Hindenburg hopes 20 ac-
ccmpiish through, or Immediately after,
the capture of Amiens.
The fate OF the vital base IS admit
teddy In the balance. but long IS
the German tanks are plnnee down
where they are, even the fall OF
An!ens,, experts point out would mere
III be 8 temporary reverse to be off,
set when the counter offensive IA
launched Realizing this. the troops
80 the GERMAN left are thrown into
the fray with 4 greater recklessness
than ever. On the right. too. sharp
local fRhtinS has been going OF IN the
iars twenty-fonr hours. The latest
word from thu front this evening was
that the British rot only had held (
their own everywhere. but we're even !
counter attacking and making neat In !
roads into tie German positions.
But not for a moment is the allied I
high command losing sight Of the men
ace southeast Of Aniens. There, be-
tween Montdidiar and the Luce brook.
:he Raiser ia personally watching the I
progress OF the battle His favorite I
sea-. Prince Eitel Fritz" is there. per-
seaRny commanding the Third guard.
when tools Douaumont two years ago /
u lar FIRST onrush at Verdun. The
2ranasa burgers and other famous
guard Injts arc IN the front line await
ng tde void 30 go forward. II is near
tsa co. rueu-e Of the Luce and Avrs
-, ne Preach and British armies now
.s s.a upon mat junction. more even
4e g0o- .Nmgeua. the German STAFF
azi=E eager eyes
Near the southern pivot or this
s8@nt Les arivesnes, the shanbles that
1as once village. IT Is stilt IN
French hands, and the German ad~
va eea to tho north and south has
sraited the attackers nothing, nor will
K help them until this graveyard Of
3eroes is Tetaken,
Nothing definite had come through
TAP TO late hour this evening re-
gsrding the outcome OF the new on 1
siaughts on the French positions
south IF the Oise, between Chauny |
Da~ ~pIa tu ,
watched with the greatest tension.
At Castel 10 the northwest OF :
Moreuii, the Germans, on the west |
bank Of the Avre, are making attempt
aftsr attempt 90 push forward to the
Amiens- ClareTnont railway. scarcely I
two miles away.
The struggle OF the Disc liz the I
neYcest that the drive has yet devsl- 8
opsd, because along the rivers left '
bank the French are fornldahly In {
tyenched. protected by barrAge fully {
as effective as that OF Krupp's c
finest" {
Moreover. thvgs II no chance fer a
surprise Oh this Asont, and the French I
hare had eighteen days IA which to 7
Hsase the necessary forces 20 meet the &
'reutor tidal wave should II try TO {
sws~p across, Much depends for the {
mcfnsnt on-tfie strength of weakn e~s I
OF the DridGehead position the Ger-
mans managed to establish near
AmfFny yesterday. II
A supporting German drive between ]
soi9scne and Rheims In expected mo-
ncntartly, with the objective of piac- I
ing the French Montdidler- Chauny I
line between two pincars 8
At the southern tip of their aaltent'g
spear head, just below Montdldiar, the t
Germans have made no progress q
whatever in the last forts ght hours /
dsspite their fury driven, reckless as b
~aults In the regions Of the villages n
pf Mentehel and Msnin ST Georges III