Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-03-23

- SHoN SAV ~
although they rave broken through
the British defensive system. have no,
pierced the entire British zone of de-
Tense: The allusion in the British
statement to the defensive system
may be only to the main battle from,
system behind which other lines have
been prepared. IL that is the case
the Germans have done little more
than repeat what the British did in
the battle Of the Somme when they
pierced the Hindenburg lire and
captured long stretches Of it, forcing
the Germans to retreat to prepared
positions in the rear.
DIFFICULTIES Coming.
The experiences Of the attacking
forces in either campaigns show that
the Germans as they progress are
likely to find their movements more
difficult n the resistance of the
British more effective. The more
deeply they strike into the British
lines the further they must move
from their bases. entailing increasing
difficulties in providing supplies for
their troops. They must move for
ward owe a devastated area. while
the British will have the great ad-
vantage of good roads and railroads.
Perhaps the greatest problem of
the Germans will be to bring up their
heavy artillery. In every pre- yious
campaign of this nature it has been
necessary for the advancing forces
to halt frequently while bringing up
the heavy pieces.
The extent of the British defenses
has been a subject Of much ~specula-
ton but it is known they have been
vastly improved during the last win
I fer 20 1-Ifar. in tho ,srn r,I,A,, <I~@
offensive rested with the French and
British. less attention was paid to
positions of the rear. The British
lin particular were sale to scorn
! elaborate defense such as the
Germans constructed. After the de-
lection Of Russia and consequent in
crease of German strength in the
west. however, it became necessary
for the allies to consider defensive
measures. which were carried out
Curing the winter. f.s )
Great Artillery Preparation. ~
London, March 23.-,-The artillery
preparation Of the Germans in the
drive against the British lines, which
is now in progress. is described by
those who took part in it as the most
violent they ever endured. according
to the Daily Malls correspondent on
lle bIAusH AfoHl. Inc tnlng lnlL
stands out as cha racteristic Of the
fighting up to the present." says the
correspondent, lis that we. did SO we'll
under the terrific impact" Continu-
ling the correspondent says:
Upon corps front there was a
gun every fifteen yards. The strength
of the n%1ortars. which the enemy
brought up in such great numbers,
sent over such an overwhelming
weight of iron high explosives
that in. most parts OF the front. wire
were o~bliterated. At the same time
all of u known battery positions
were drenched with gas but their gas
shells failed to reach all our batteries,
nor did they succeed anywhere in
breaking down fire. At one point
where the Germans found our wire
unbroken they set to work with
scissors until they had made a way
through. an incident reminiscent OF
the methods Of fighting inculcated by
Frederick the Great. All Of this was
done under our machine gun fire.
"a curious fact reported by our air
men was that the Germans compos-
ing the special assault divisions wore
new uniforms. Got on their best
clothes for a whit to Paris comment
ed one of u generals. '
"Our ,relayins corps did valuable
work despite diverse weather condi-
tions. One of our men in the early
morning reconnaissance spotted sev-
ward south of B~ul1ecourt and another
reported three thousand of the enemy
in a sunken road in this area waiting
to advance. Few enemy machines
were see and they mostly flew low.
peppering our trenches with their