Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-22
FURIOUS ATTACKS
RAGE ALONG FIFTY
MILES OF FRONT
Shells of Large and Small
Calibers Rained Upon
British Troops.
FOLLOWING BOMBARDMENT,
INFANTRY RUSHES FORWARD
English Monitors Bombard Os-
tend and Drop Shells on
Helgoland.
RHERZON CAPTURED BY HUNS
Amsterdam Reports Are That Semi
official Negotiations for Peace
Are on Foot.
FOLLOWING BOMBARDMENT,
INFANTRY RUSHES FORWARD
RHERzoN CAPTURED BY HUNS
IBy Associated press1

BY Associated Press1
Exactly twenty five months after the
Germans began the historic battle of
Ncrdun the thunder of their guns
deepencd into tempest OF fire along
the British front in Northern France.
and they began what may be the
greatest battle of the war--a struggle
which may lead to results which will
shape the desttnics of millions of pco-
pie over coming centuries.
The attack was made on a scale
hitherto unknown during this war OF
major onensiveS. 1t was over a front
of nifty miles. Official reports are very
brief, but correspondents at the scene
tell OF the terrific storm of artillery
fire that burst over the lines held by
Field Marshal lIaig's men.
The bomba rdment began at O'Clock
Thursday morning, jus, before the
early spring dawn was breaking over
Eastern France. Shells OF large and
small calbcrs were raincd upon tho
lines held by the British for about five
hours. Then German infantry stormcd
out TO make tho first great assault.
The Germans, favored by the wind
moved forward under cover OF pail
u
columns from the eyes of the British
holding tho front lines
IIAIG.S MEN IN READINESS
FOR EVERY CONTINGENCY
Describing the battle Andrew Eonar
Law Informed the House Of Commons
that lightly held portions OF the Hritisl,
lire had been withdrawn. but said th,t
thcrc was no need for alarm on tho
part OF the country The Associated
Press correspondent at the Bri,is;;
front reports that an attack there had
pecn expected. and that great prcpara
tlons had been made TO meet It, The
herHn oHlcial report says that the Ger
mans nave penetrated into some B,.it
sh positions.
Sonar Law reminded the house thar
he had given warning week aro ,i,,,
II Snch an attack occurred. the ,tt,ck
ING party would gain n certain amount
oi ground, and the government. i'm
ioii"d''on so far did not lead TO the
belief that anything beyond thai b,a
happened
am sure that with the knovlcdcs
beforehand OF wha; has b,nno,
similar attacks on either side" con.
tiHued Bonar Law the bouse 49,,
country VIII not he unnccess,-;,,
alarmed by information of that ki,I
'u' stan and the Versailles coun.si
naturally nave been considering v.n..,
'h'shi happen in the event OF an att,ci
ATTACK LAUNCHED on VERY
PART OF LINE tNTICIpATnn
And | may tell the house tho, .,,..
attack has been launched in everv n,rt
OF our line we were Informed uo,,,d ,a
attacked. IL any attack were unde--
taken 1T all
may say that only three dave ,,o
We received information a; The c.ai;-
""N from headquarters in France tb,,
'"e! "ctniteiN arrived at the conrlu
Si"h mat an attack would be launched
Immediately. and as they were nre
P"rco 10 meet II the country need have
no cause for anxiety
Huns PENETRATE FRENCH
LINES NEAR OHNES yII.LACE:
Nor were the German cnor,a
centratcd on the front held bv III.
fritish. Early Thursday morning m.
Germans assaulted the French lines
near the village of Orncs to the nort,-
east OF Nerdun. and claim TO have
penetrated considerable distance.
Near Rheims. too. the French were
subjected 10 an assault. but here ,rs
arti1!ery bore the burden OF the fight.
ing.
inc attacks at Ncrdun and Rheims.
however. may he considered for the
time bcinS as mere diversions to the
principal attack. which has been looscd
against the British. They would serve
TO keep French forces at Vcrtlun and
Nheims from being transferred TO The
British sector if that part of the bat
tie line should show any signs OF bend
ing back.
Nothing has been reported as TO az
tacks on the lines held ny the Ameri-
cans. 1t had been expected that the
Germans would make an assault on the
American hold trenches in the !.ur-
rainc and Tou! sectors. acting on the
theory that troops which have not had
experience in engagements or the drst
degree might be found 10 yield easier
than veterans. That such an attack
may yet he launched. and with only
slight artillery preparation. Is within
the poss Utilities
The activity in the American sectors