Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1918-04-13
The World War

Facing American, French and Brit
ish troops strongly entrenched and
we'll equipped for battle, the German
Army has for the moment given up
its direct drive against Amiens. Aft
er utter repulse in his efforts to smash
straight through to his objective, the
enemy now is attempting new ma
neuever which is intended to broaden
the field of action and reduce the men
ace Of q counter-offensive that would
nullify all the gains made by the leu.
tons since March q.
Reports from the battle line in Pi-
cardy disclose the first stages of this
new German offensive aimed at either
side OF the salient in the Allied lines.
From, La Bassee Canal, in the north,
to the sectors east of Laon, the great
artillery forces of the enemy are thun-
derias, with the bombardment deep
ening at places to the intensity OF
drum fire.
The length of this front is approx
mately 120 miles. North of Lens, east
OF Arras. along the new front run
ming through Bucquoy, to Albert, south
to Montdidier, and thence eastward
past Lassigny and Noyon to a point
far beyond Chauny, the Germans are
hammering the Allied lines in an at
tempt to break the defenses and pre-
pare them for the infantry assault,
which may be expected at any mo-
ment
On the western "elbow" of the
salient in the Allied lines the Ger
mans are forced to fight uphill. Their
advance across the lower ground along
the SOmme, Ancre, Avre and Luce
i Rivers has carried them UP to a para
pet of hills which sentinel the road
to Ariens Attacks along this nat
IRA! bulwark have netted the enemy
only Insignificant gains at horrible
cost.
At rcints the German efforts have
gained, but these gains have resulted
only in the formation of sharp salients
which are swept by rifle and machine
gun fire and tempests of shells when
ever enemy troops are seen forming
for an attack.
There is wholesome respect in
the German General Staff for the Al
lied reserve army, which as yet ap.
pears to have been drawn upon light
~ to meet the Teutonic attacks.
The attack on the French lines
southeast of Chauny is for the pur-
pose of removing a menacing salient
and the gaining Of better protection
to the German left flank.
This assault is still going on and it
has made considerable progress. The
Germans struck through the lower
forest of Coucy and have reached a
point south of the Village of Folem'
bray. The Berlin official statement
claims that 1000 prisoners have been
taken.
That an attack of large dimensions
is planned for the front of Arras
northward to Lens is considered prob
able by military experts. As long as
this front is in its present position
the Germans cannot exert their full
strength on the line before Amiens.
The cannonade in this region may be
the prelude of a massed attack such
as bent the British line during the
latter days of March.
notwithstanding the statement
made on Friday by Stephen Pichen
the French foreisn minister, that
"Auericans now are fighting in
Picardy," nothing definite has been
learned about where General Perish
iag's men are located, or what part
they are playing in this battle OF
battles.
On the American held sectors nea,
Verdun, east of Inneville. and north
east OF Toul, only ordinary trench &C
tivities have been reported.
Little has been heard from the
Italian front. The concentration OF
Austrian troops in that theatre OF
the war is considered warning that
MAJ. activities may be looked fol
there, probably in the mountainous
country, but there has been no indi
cation that the Teutons plan to launch
their attack at any early date.
Turkish troops are reported to bt
invading the Caucasus. where the!
will take possession Of the territorie:
which were given them under thu
peace treaty of Brest Litovsk.
The landing Of British and Japan
csc forces at Vladivostok seems II
have been merely for the purpose o
p,.icing that city. No steps towar'
cheering them have as yet been takel
by the Bolshevik authorities.