New-York tribune., 1918-03-21
Germans Report ''French"
Artillery Active at Amer
lean Position
Guns Roar at Verdun
British Destroy Nineteen Enc
my Airplanes and Force
Nine Down

LONDON. March 2O.--Severe hand
to-hand fighting has taken place on
the Lorraine front, few miles north
Aof where the American Badonvlller
trenches lie, official statements re-
vealed to-day. Both the French and
the Germans claim prisoners. The
Germans attacked and entered the
French trenches, but were completely
driven out.
This was only one Of the many sharp
local encounters which have been
fought on the West front in the last
t7venty-four hours. Intense aerial ac-
tivity also prevails, large formations
fighting battles high above the zone
of operations.
French" Artillery Active
Tuesdays French night official state
ment told of heavy artillery actions IN
Lorraine. between Bures and Badon-
viller, evidently the prelude to. the IN
fantry action. To-day's communique
from Paris Says the Germans made a
strong attack on the French positions
south of Arracourt, just north of
where the Rhine-Marne Canal crosses $
the battle line. Violent hand-to-hand
fighting resulted. The statement con-
tinues, the French everywhere holding
the advantage, repulsing the enemy
and taking prisoners.
The German official statement, refer
ring to this action, says that northeast
of Bures an operation resulted IN the
capture Of French prisoners and ma
chine guns. Berlin also says the
French bombarded the German lines at
Parroy Wood, just south of the cana
and north of the Badonviller sector
all day yesterday without Interruption
and it adds that on the front opposite
Blamont and Badonviller-that is, or
that one of the American fronts where
United States troops row hold trenches
captured from the enemy-the French
artillery" also was active.
Guns Roar at Verdun
The German statement declares The
artillery duel CONTINUES violently
near Verdun, the artillery on bott
sides making great expenditures OF
ammunition" This sector was the
scene of large French and German
raids last week.
To-day's German communique seems
to make it clear that General vor
Gallwitz now commands part of the
front co0rdinately with the German
Grown Prince, Crown Prince Rup
precht, of Bavaria, and Grand Duke
Albrecht, Of Wuertemburg, and not
one sector under the German Grown
Prince. This is the inference from the
grouping of the statement, the frs
half Of the information being under
the heading "Fronts Of Crown Prince
Rupprecht and the German Grown
Prince" and the second under army
Groups of General Won Gallwitz anc
Grand Duke Albracht." On previou:
davs the news about the Won Gallwit;
and the Crown Prince sectors had beer
grouped together.
A Belgian official statement of Tues
days date says numerous bodies o
Germans were found in the trenche
recaptured after the heavy enemy raid!
of Monday.
Nineteen Enemy Planes Destroyed
In the great air fights on Monday
saws an official communication glvet
out here, nineteen German airplane:
were destroyed by the British and nine
others driven down out of control
Twelve British machines failed to re
turn.
Nine tons of bombs were dropped or
the Busigny railway station, enem.
rest billets and ammunition dumps ant
on two airdromes, one of which was
occupied by large bombing machines
/ Six hundred bombs the following nigh
were thrown on two airdromes used b!
enemy night flying machines and othe
targets.
Artillery activity on the front fren
The sea to La Bassee increased to-tSi-
after q short lull, according to Berlin