The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1918-03-30
PROGRESS OF THE WAR
From sundays Salt Lake Tribune

In three days of fighting on front
of so miles-now extending to 60
miles or more-the Germans have
broken through two lines of British
trench systems. have forced the Brit
isb from the Cambria salient. and
are attacking the third British lines
west of San Quentin and east of
Peronne. San Quentin and Peronne
are about Is miles apart. AS near
ly as could be conjectured from the
latest dispatch. the new British line
extends along a line running midway
between the two towns.
While at first the purpose of the
Germans was doubtful. it soon be-
came clear that the great offensive
which they had been threatening
was under way. No concentration
of guns on a 50-mile front had ever
approached the Hun concentration
between Arras and La Fere. 1t is
reported that in one small area
presumably in the northern sector
near Croisilles = 1000 guns were
posted.
The bombardment preceding the
infantry attack was the heaviest of
war. 1t began in misty weather,
which was disadvantage to the in
vaders, because their flyers could not
make observations. About noon. on
the first day. the sun came out and
the flyers began to direct the artil-
lery fire. Many battles in the air
are recorded. The British aviators
flew low. dropping bombs or sweep
ing the enemy's ranks with machine
gun fire. In fact, all the weapons
known to modern warfare were used
flying machines, balloons, tanks,
liquid fire. poison gas and gas shells.
in addition to the various forms of
firearms.
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg and
General Won Ludendorff had inspired
their soldiers and the German peo-
pie with the utmost confidence by
means of publicity lasting several
months. Finally. with great -four
ish neutral correspondents were in
vited to the front. and the emperor
went to take command of the offen-
sive in person.
The successes attained by the Ger
mans are most notable, but they
have been achieved at frightful cost.
At the same time the losses of the
British may be conjectured by the
figures contained in the Berlin re-
port, for the success has been so
great that even the Wilhelmstrasse
is probably not exaggerating. By
the end of the second day, or perhaps
the morning of the third day, the
Germans had taken 25. 900 prisoners.
This might indicate British loss ap-
preaching 10000 or rs. 900. No such
losses on the British front have oc-
Cured heretofore in such brief peri
cd. nor have the Germans ever before
been able to take so many British pris-
oners. Inasmuch as the Germans
gained every foot of ground only by
the most violent fighting against an
enemy almost as we'll armed as them
selves, at least as to machine guns
and lighter cannon. their losses must
have been quite as severe.
After five hours bombardment
the Germans. at o'clock Thursday
morning. launched their attack on a
fifty-mile front from La Fere on the
south to point east of Arras on the
north. Some of the names appear
ing in the dispatches are of towns
and villages sufficiently important to
be designated on the available maps.
and it may be helpful. therefore. to
describe the line along which the
battle began by using some of these
names. Beginning just north of the
fortress of La Fere, the line passed
near San Quentin. La Verguier.
Hargicourt. Gouzeaucourt. Havri-
court. Flesquieres. Queant. Bulle-
court, point east of Croisilles and
naox GLo.s~,, c~l Mooohx,