South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-22
AMERICANS ARE
ABOUT To FEEL
GIANT THRUST
Gen. PerShing'S Men Are Like
Iy to Feel Full Fury of
Newly Launched Ger
man Attack.
international News Service.

international News Service
WASHINGTON. March 22-Gc1.
Pershing's troops are about 90 feel
the fun fury of the real German
attack. OF this, army men here to-
day were thoroughly convinced &C
they scanned reports of the mann
moth offensive launched on the
western front yesterday The news
that has thus far uttered in from the
battle lines makes nO mention ~
thrusts against the sectors known to
be held oy American units, but the
scope Of the German drive. whether
or not il is the much advertised
grand offensive" cannot uut mean
the Americans will feel some pare
OF il.
Recent activity i'm the sections of
the line held by the Americans
shows conclusively that the Ger
man hiEh command g seriously in-
terested in the disposition OF Gen.
Pershing'S strength There have
been almost daily feeling OUT" c1-
petitions and raids in $40 Mans
/ land" calculated 20 discover the lu-
/ cation and type Of Americans hold
/ ing first line positions. This can
/ have no other meaning. say army
I officials than that the Germans
contemplate SMASHING blow
against our forces before the initial
stages OF the drive are completed
Americans Not Yet Attacked.
There was some curiosity todav
over the fact that the American
trenches i'm Lorraine. Toul and tna
other pa-ts OF the front where tho
Germ ans know the Americans are
have not, so far as early informa-
ton today discloses. been subjected
10 attack. No theory as 20 this was
vouchsafed but IL was remarked
that the fact was interesting es-
pecially because vicious assaults
were made upon parts OF The 'front.'
far distant from the main attack
upon the British positions between
the Disc and the Sensee rivers
Rheims felt the wrath of the Ger
mans and distant Nerdun also was
subjected 70 heavy artillery pound
ing These attacks were considered
Incidental actions designed 20 dis
tract the allied commander AMI
prevent q transfer Of troops
Will Find Stin Defense
Nevertheless IL was looked upon
as remarkable that so far a. early
advices reveal the American
trenches received practically no ar
tention. When their turE comes. ami
fl may come within "A hours. corn
petent critics believe there is no
question but that the Germans wis
find the defenders FAR better pre-
pared than perhaps they have caI-
culated. This is based upon the
proven morale and success with
which the American troops ha s
conducted every operation iu shien
they have figured 90 date
on the general aspects of the bias
tie. which in many quarters - LOOK
ed upon. as the possible turning
point of the war. there was express
ed here today the utmost satisfa
tion and confidence. Subjected 90 a
bonn bardment and foot attack on
scale that has not hitherto been a..
tempted the British troops condu-;-
ed their defense with the utmost
yal0r Although their lines we've
pierced ar several points. i- was
pointed ont that the Germans sur
fered frghtful losses and up 90 The
present have NOT hern ga bic 90 make
their gains worth the cost
Holland l. Prepared
The relation or the offensive
launched bE the Germans resrerday
90 the situation brought by Hor-
lands tacit assent 10 the seizure ur
her merchant marine uE England
and +ra United -raf.- attracted moi.