Arizona republican., 1918-03-18
Fighting Increases

day witnesses an increase in the fight ing activity. In every theater, except Russia, the infantry and artillery are hard at work. From the North sea to the Swiss frontier no day passes with out numerous patrol encounters, which at times reach the intensity all most of battles. and artillery duels of violence but little short of the great exchanges of shells which in the past year reached the highwater mark in intensity.
 Probably the most ambitious of all the attempts by the bellgerents to pierce an opposing line has been made by the French troops over wide front in the Verdun sector. The attack was delivered after preparatory artillery fire lasting ten hours. according to the Berlin war office, but was checked. That the fighting was of a sanguinary character is indicated by the state ment that the troops came into hand to-h hand encounters. It is claimed by Berlin that at another point in this re- zion the Germans penetrated French positions and captured 200 prisoners, including the staff of one battalion. At numerous points along the Brit ish front Field Marshal Haig's men are under heavy bombardnients from
 
 been the pounding of the shells along the Bapaume- Cambrai road, in the Scarpe valley and around Lens. Only one enemy infantry attack was at tempted. This occurred north of Lens and was repulsed. The British were successful in similar maneuvers near Epesy and Gavrelle.
 Artillery Duels
 | On the American front near Foul the Americans are ever on the alert and | frequently open up with their guns against German positions and compel the enemy to evacuate the sectors un der fire. Posts occupied by snipers and listeners and nests of machine gunners recently have been effectually taken care of by the American gum ! ners.
 The Germans, however, are not per hitting the men from overseas to do all the shooting. for they themselves are at times putting the Americans under an extraordinarily heavy artillery fire in which explosive shells of large call ibre and gas missiles are used. The Foul sector apparently has been picked by the Germans as favorite spot up- on which to expend their noxious gases, although Luneville has not been forgotten by them in this respect.
 Indications are not wanting from the increase in the activity on the Austro- Italian front that the Austro- Germans from their northern line intend shortly another attempt to force their way out | upon the plains and into open warfare with the Italian and the British and French troops sent thither to reinforce them. Several cont:ngents forming re- connoitering parties have been put tt flight by the Italians in the mountain region. The Italians themselves have successfully engineered small often sives in the region of Monte Asalone.
 Urging on the U-Boats
 Likewise in Macedonia there ha: been a great increase in the military operations. Along almost all of thu front from Lake Ochrida eastward thu big guns of both sides are hammerint away at the opposing positions. Th' Germans apparently are still intent or totally destroying the famous town 0 Monastir and wiping out the remain ing remnants of its civilian population The town again has been placed unde fierce bombardment by heavy pro jectile and gas shells. In this attacl forty more of the non-co -combatan populace were killed.
 Both Austria and Hungary agail are experiencing a recurrence of labo troubles. Large strikes are in progress in Budapest and Vienna, and threat of military intervention against tn dissatisfied workmen have been made German newspapers continue to CT aloud for an intensification of Ger many's submarine warfare in conse r quence of the decision by the Unite l States and Great Britain to take owe l Hollands mercantile marine lying il America and allied ports Whethe Holland is to acquiesce in the demand