Evening star., 1918-03-29
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
PARIS, March 2s-The great battle
10 now raging over = front Of more
the line has increased the number Of
German reserves engaged Although
thus far no decisive success has been
obtained anywhere. there Is Increased
confidence here. The impression In
semi-oficial circles Is that the allies
have not only held of the Germans.
but now are no longer compelled to
permit the enemy by his maneuvers
to shape the course which the battle
shall take.
The general feeling Is that for Ger
many the battle is virtually lost. that
for the allies the battle IS about to
begin
The operations thus far are accepted
~ confirming the theory that Paris
was not the main objective of the Ger
man offensive, but that the plan of the
u enemy was to break the connection be-
tween the French and British armies.
In which he has failed. Hfa main di-
rect attack was westward toward the
sea. The Germans seek Amiens because
this town Is an important railway cen
ter Of communication with England.
The loss Of Amiens would be incon-
ven1ent. but not vital.
Situation Improving Rapidly.
Marcel sembat. former minister of
public works. in LHeure. writes:
The situation is improving for us
ana improving rapidly. The German
! a&tack in the Mentdidier region is like
~ 10 prove formidable failure.
At~HH tn he
tcbjective Of the Germans. the attacks
tAre meeting with a stubbord defense.
tThey must have Amiens to cut or the
fHritish. They must reach the sea to at
Dag will be spared to defend Amiens to
sfhe last"
! The eighth day of the battle brought
=, change in the weather, II conditions
:sThe wind shifted from the northwest to
Hes southwest. which will prevent the
sGermans from using gas. Rain is fall
Ting. which will make 1t difficult for the
0ermans to bring up their artillery over
fthe ground they have acquired.
: It may now be said that the French
!afmies In reserve have come into posi-
itton. and the numerical superiority
which the Germans enjoyed In their first
rush is decreasing.
New Method of Attack.
4 The Germans are employing a new
snsthod Of attack. the most conspicuous
sf&ature Of which II smoke-cloud camou-
fdage. under cover of which successive
syaves Of attacking forces advance In
s4chelons. After a short and intense ar
stfllery preparation the drst wave. armed
with automatic rides. machine guns and
new cannon mounted on low carriages
Sfor short-range nrs. 10 sent forward,
s4ring at range OF 1000 yafds. It Is
tQrdered to nre on the reserves. regard
sless OF the opposing forces right at
ssHAnd. which the succeeding waves must
account for. Tho task OF the leading
s<koops 10 to increase the advantage Of
larprfse. preventing paralyxing counter
2ltacks on the part Of the reserves.
The result OF these tactics usually 1.
nat the nrst wave 10 almost entirely
wiped out. The sseend wave tftsn passes
bad. 70 b followed by the third and
80 on Thus. the oncoming waves have
1pcceedsd one another during the eight
Aays Of the conflict
gf Germans Use Fresh Troops.
- a. AssDelAts13san.
tsW1TH THE WRENCH ARMY IN
FRANCE. Wednesday. March 37.-Fresh
0gEman trpops were thrown today against
NE FroneA army. maintaining the juno
Aon betyresn the Frencf gnQ Bt3tish lines
~. = Notwithstanding The determined
ND Aade by the French, they were
f1hkco6 70 retire toward the west, the Ger.
uiAns breaking through 1t Montdidier and
8 eeeuyF1nG that place. Further south, the
I 4feeh hald wen. rssisting al the Ger
~ ~ k0H&DL