Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-21
ReneuQI OfBiQ
Fight Expected
atAnyMoment

By the Associated Press.
Renewal of heavy fighting is monien-
tariiy looked for along the western battle
front, not only on the Flanders line, but
to the south, in the Somme area, where
the Germans made their bid for quick
victory last month and failed in their
larger purpose of dividing the British
and French armies at single stroke.
Reports from the front show that signs
are not wanting that the Germans pur-
pose attacking again in the Amiens area,
where this important railway center, the
capture of which would badly disrupt
the entente allied communications, is
their main objective.
Armies of Six Nations Ready.
Against this blow the armies of six
nations are standing together today in
the battle area-British, French, Amer
lean, Belgian, Italian AID Portuguese
divisions-ready not only to repel the
inevitable attack, but to strike back
when the proper moment comes in the
judgment of their unified high COM
| mand. Apparently. the allies have
| thrown in only enough of their reserves
to hold the Germans, conserving their
! strength as far as possible. 1t has
| been noted, however, that when the ne
cessity of holding became imperative
| to avert disaster, the holding power
was there to stop the enemy onrush.
Germans Halt in North.
In the north. the enemy, after his bit
ter reverse of Thursday and Friday
along the Givenchy-St. Vincent line
south of the Lys. apparently is pausng
to organize more thoroughly for at
tacks upon Mount KENNEL, the doni-
mating peak in the ridge zone which
the British are holding firmly south
| west of Ypres.
The Germans were constrained to
maintain infantry inactivity along vir-
tually the entire Lys front Saturday
after suffering the terrific losses which
the British imposed in breaking up
the massed enemy assaults.
Field Marshal Haig, however, found
himself able to take the aggressive
i tion which deprived the Germans of
even such small gains as they had been
forced to content themselves with
when Thursdays battle was over. BY
this intensive British action the line
| as it stood before Thursdays German
attack was completely restored. The
Germans made local thrust southeast
! of Robecq, near the westerly u. of
the Lys salient, but were speedily
driven back by the British into Pecaut
wood. whence they came.
| Expect Some New Move.
| The British apparently are expecting
some new move by the enemy in the
Arras region. and Friday night British
idetachments advanced in a big raiding
south of the Scarpe. near Beaurains.
| taking prisoners and capturing ma
/ chine guns.
! a renewed attack here would be a
logical proceeding for the Germans. it
would appear, after their failure to
gain ground by striking south from the
Lys salient with the bending back OF
the British line south of La Bassee
canal as one Of their presumed objects.
| Such result would have tended to un-
cover Vimy ridge from the. north and
render this corner stone of the British
defensive structure in northern France
| possibly more vulner Able.
| 1t may well be that the enemy is pre-
pairing a stroke to the south of the COW
eted object with similar end in view
on that side. His initial attempt
astride the Scarpe in the March drive
was a costly failure, however, and the
British line has been standing like a
rock all the way between Vimy and
Albert. just to the north of the Somme.
/, The French apparently are looking for
a renewal of the German offensive south
Of the Somme at no distant date, as was
linstanced by this weeks move on Gen
Petains part to improve his defensive
positions along the Avre. southeast OF
Amiens. The French gained the easterly
slope Of the heights overlooking the
river by this move. and on Friday night
they had the best of a accommodating en-.
icounter in this sector. repelling a raid
and taking some prisoners themselves.
! The play of the heavy artillery is con.
1.-THE battle line, between Lassigny and
lNoyon, near the French right flank. hui
i no infantry fighting Of moment has YET
dsseioned there.