Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-25

| w nile the GerlQduS nave LudQ0 ucdQ-
way. no definite enveloping movement
has thus far been outlined in the great
offensive, says the War Departments
weekly military review today. Com
menting on the assaults on the western
front, the statement says failure of the
militarists to hold the German people
by political strategy has caused the
| rulers to resort to a desperate battle
test to maintain their supremacy.
1.-THE assault launched by the Ger
mans against the British front has re-
| opened the fighting season in the west"
says the statement.
| This operation confirms to us that
| the German higher command, unable to
control the strategic situation through
! political agencies, as has been unceas-
ingly attempted during the last four
months, has been forced to engage in a
desperate military venture in an effort
I to retain its domination over the peo-
pies of the central empires and, II pos
sibIe. force a victorious peace by the
fortunes of arms.
Plan of Attacks
.orhe German attack began with a
| brief but overwhelming artillery bonn
| bardment with high explosive and gas
| shells at dawn on March Il. in the roll
| ing country north of the Disc, ninety
| four miles northeast of Paris.
| From Croisilles, south to Nendeuil, a
| distance of forty-seven miles. the Ger
| mans concentrated this preliminary
| barrage, in which a number of Austrian
| batteries participated.
| AT the same time hostile artillery
was active in the Ypres-La Bassee re-
| gion.
THE German infantry divisions there
| upon advanced to the attack along the
| tanks of the salient in front of Cam
| brai. Furious fighting continues on the
\ northern flank between Croisilles,
| Bullecourt and Lagnicourt; on the
southern. along the line Gouzeaucourt-
| Hargicourt-Le Verguier, and extending
across the Crozat canal to beyond La
| Fere.
"The British forces are heavily en-
gagged: While the Germans have been
| able to make Roadway no definite en-
veloping movement is as yet outlined.
TT would be premature to express
an opinion regarding the tactical
phases of the operations now taking
in the combat situation, which are in
evitable in a battle of such magnitude.
Enemy Casualties Heavy.
Enemy casualties have been e1-
ceedingly heavy.
ARTILLERY duels are reported in
Artois and Flanders and the extension
Of the battle front is possible.
Prior to the German attack great
activity prevailed along the entire
British front. The British troops were
successful in number of raids strong
their alertness and initiative.
"Our own forces in training in Lor-
raine are still holding on to the
trenches northeast Of Badonviller which
hAy NJ los In &c
region our artillery is cor nuing to
batter the German lines. and 4 number
of scouting parties, which have pene-
trated the German positions. report
erably damaged.
TN our sector north of Toul our
artillery has successfully bombarded en-
envy works and hillets behind their
trolls reached the German second line
and returned without suffering any
casualties. In this area the enemy
made thrust against the French
became engaged. The Germans were
driven Off.
"a hostile raid was also attempted
against our forces at another point
strong barrage. Our infantry. well
supported by artillery. was able to stop
the attacking column before our
trenches were reached. Our troops
In the Laon area the enemy used con-
siderable number of gas shells, causing
only slight casualties. Gas lombard
mentS were noted in Lorraine.
Active on French Front.
'"The French front has also been ex-
tremely active. Large raiding opera
lions were undertaken, more especially
in the Verdun area. A brisk French at
tack against the hostile trenches in
Malancourt wood resulted in the pene-
tration of the enemy line on a front of
1.400 yards to a depth of 500 yards.
Eighty prisoners were taken. Another
very successful French raid was con-
Quoted against the adjacent positions
near Cheppy wood. where. on a 'front.'
age of over 800 yards, depth of 800
yards was attained and numerous pris-
oners were captured. American officers.
who are training with French units,
participated in these operations.
The Germans in turn temporarily
were able to penetrate the French
trenches in Samogneux, Caurieres wood
and Bezonvaux. while southwest of
Ornes and west of Apremont the en-
envy thrust forward a number of units
and succeeded in overrunning the
French positions and took prisoners.
Hitherto. there has been no in
dlcat1on of an extension of the German
offensive to the French front.
1--WE also note that Re1piap ,,D;ts b,-o