Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-04-09
Third Phase of Great Bat
tie in Picardy Now
Beginning.
GERMAN FIRE HEAVY
AT THREE POINTS
iuns Seeking to Enlarge Salient Gre
ated by Advance Toward Amiens-
Checked Somewhat by French in
Push South Of chauny-AIIied Troops
Set to Meet Blows Which Are Ex-
peeted From Arras South to chauny.

they were anticipating against the
allies, no infantry action developed
this afternoon. The artillery battle,
however, !. continued in many sec
tors, notably in the case of the
British along line Of fifteen miles
from LaBassee canal to above
Armentieres, just to the north Of
the present battle line. II was re-
. ported to be under a heavy bonn
bardnent yesterday with German
gas shells, and the enemy has con-
stinued the pounding Of this area.
The British line on this front
has not moved since the summer of
1915 and there has been little
fighting here in this period.
+ Altho the Germans may be con-
tsmpIatins an attack here with the
object Of disIocating the northern
sector Of, the British line If pos
ssibIs, the probabilities seem that
the bembardment is more Of
demonstration than anything
eIss, TO distract British attention
while ssrsssrvss are being moved to
lthe south.
Ia t'se somn,s region the. Ger
nsans are heavily Smelling the Brit
tish line directly east Of Amiens.
Jhs principal artillery battles in
the French area were around the
Montdidier salient and eastward to
Noyon. These struggles of the big
guns were carried over from yes
tsrday, when first the artillery
activity began to develop.
II The French are completing their
withdrawal to the west Of Laon,
where they have made their line
conform in general to the Athlete
river valley, linking it up With tho
old line southeast of coucy-Ie-
Chateau. Tho Germans, who ad-
vancsd 40 tho French operation
was in progress here, were kept
constantly covered by the French
artillery and sustained heavy
losses.
In preparation for another heavy
infantry attack against the aIIiea
lines in Picardy in an attempt to
reach Amisns tho German guns of
all eaIibers are roaring in thund-
srous tones along front Of 100
miles.
The entire countryside is said to
bs rocking from the heavy detona-
tions, but no infantry action has
xet developed. Especially severe
has been the German fire around
euequey, along the sommel and
Between Montdidier and Noyon.
Last week the Germans in massed
attacks failed TO penetrate tho
Frsneh and British lines near
Amisns.
The heavy bombardment now
going on probably is the prelude
to heavy attacks along the line.
Hucquoy, which is south Of Arras,
. on the northern end Of the sec
tor which the British defended so
valiantly last week.
Tho British here and both to the
north and south. hold. strong hill
positions. Tho Germans must
widen the head Of their wedss
along the Somme and il 10 be.
iisved they will attempt again to
Do II with attacks IN the Buequoy
district.
To the south the French have
hold the Germans for ten days de-
spite severe attacks. To extend
The battle front southward would
mean TO include the line from
<lAontdiaisP 10 Noyon.
Along tho Ancrs, Somme, Luce
and Avrc rivers, whore tho Ger
many made strong and fruitIess
attacks during the past tes, days,
thsrs has been no infantry fight
Ing. Elsesyhere, however, the en-.
SrBy artillery fire has increased
srsatIy. -
On the extreme eastern end Of
the southern leg Of the salient the
German: have been checked .ome.
wliat in their advance southwark
from chauny.. The French still
held part Of the lower forest Of
couoy and on Monday the French
rear guard inflicted heavy losses
On the Germans. Tho enemy has
not yet reach the line Of tho
Aillstts river.
On the rest Of the front in France
there has boon little activity.
On the American sectors north.
;vvest. o. TouI and ii Lorraine there
:have been patrol actions and ar.
tjllery exchanges.
9eitish troops stationed along
~ piavs near MonteIlo have
taken over q sector Oh the Italian
mountain front in the region Of
JksJaes.
Man peWsr and probably self.
.9oxsrnnsnt for ireland are two
'lNesrssnt sssssisrs eenfrentlns