Evening star., 1918-03-30
NEW GERMAN DRIVE
ADEFENSVE STEP
TOGUARD FLANKS
ImperiIed by Salient, Huns Had
to Attack or Be
Attacked.
THEIR LINES INVITATION
FOR A COUNTERBLOW
French, With Strong Reserves, Ap-
parently Are Able to Hold
Positions.

| The Germans last night renewed their
region. where their wedge had been
| pushed farther toward Paris. and a great
front on both sides of the salient which
| has Montdidier at its point.
Apparently the French line has been
forced back slightly on the northern
edge of this front, as the Paris official
report of the battle mentions the town
of Moreuil as forming part of the line
here. This place is on the Avre river,
about eleven miles southeast Of Amiens.
and it's occupation by the Germans
would advance them slightly nearer
that allied base.
Huns Forced to Attack.
On the southerly side of the salient
the battle is raging to a point beyond
Lassigny, which lies some fourteen
| miles east of Montdidier. There Is no
indication Of any change along this part
of the front.
The German assault in this region
oCctitS d lOSiC outcome Oh IHe 6IFd-
tegic position in. which the, Teutons
find themselves. as their lines. virtual
~ IN the opem all the way back-to the
Oise offered an inviting OBJ Elective for
an allied counter blow. 1t apparently
was a case of attack or be attacked,
and they have taken the initiative
To the north. along the British front,
the situation is virtually unchanged.
In general the British line stands
steady in almost exactly the same posi-
fiTVn A-Io
just about where the French and Brit
ish lines join. did the Germans make
any advance. pushing short distance
up the Roye-Amiens road in the direc-
ton of the latter place and occupying
the village of Mezieres and the hamlet
Of Maison Blanche, just to the north.
Still 12 Miles From Ameins.
The front was indicated by yesterdays
official reports as running near these
places and the recession, being but
short one, still leaves the enemy advance
here approximately twelve miles short of
Amtens. Heavy attacks on Demuin, a lit
tie farther north, were beaten Off To
the north Of the Somme there was only
local fighting
The report that the Germans are dig
ging themselves in between Thiepval and
La Boiselle. in the region north of AL
bert. may be significant, in view of the
general lull in the intensity of the fight
ing along the northern part of the front
The possibility suggests itself that,
foiled in their attempt to drive a wedge
between the French and British armies
or effect break in the allied line, the
Germans may be making an attempt to
re-esta blish their trench lines on the
basis of their present advance, either
for defensive purposes or as the jump
ing-on point for another plunge into,
entente territory.
The line of reported intrenchment,
however, Is only little more than
three miles in length, and at present
the move Is most likely to be judged
as local measure for protection of
the town of Albert.
front at this point to just about its po-
sition when the first battle of the
Somme started in 1916.
Gen. Foch's appointment to the chief
command not only brings all allied re-
sources under one head, but indicates
that the moment for a strong counter
| movement probably has arrived. With
the allied reserves and American diyi-
sions for mobile force and the British
and French holding the enemy on their
| flank. Gen. Foch will have scope for his
strategical powers.
The wings of the German salient are
its weak points and the Germans failed
IN their first attempts to strengthen
them by capturing Arras and crossing
the Disc. AS the Germans press for
ward between Albert and Montdidier
without widening their wings stimuli
taneously. their position becomes more
! hazardous. The region about Arras
and the line of the Disc offer two posi-
tions from which counter blow in
tended to roll up one side of the Ger
man wedge can be launched