Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-22

p
Arti1lery Battle Rages.
while the infantry is being held tenn
porarfly in check. the artillery battle
is still raging. according to indications
In the news dispatches. Great numbers
Of Austrian cannon are declared to have
been transferred to the western front
70 reinforce the German artillery. Bull
sarians, too. have. been brought into
the f,eld by the German command. 1t is
declared, the understanding being that
they are to be used as strategic re-
serve.
Altogether the indications are that
the central powers have masseo an
possible forces at their disposal on the
vest front for their present drive. The
prospects seem. however,. that tney
will need every man of them III tney
keep up their attack long with any
thing like its initial force. as All tne
reports Indicate that the German losses
have been terrific under the W1thering
IRE of the British artillery and machine
guns. The German artillery. too. mas
suffered heavily through counter pat,
terry work by the British. who found
the massed guns fine targets for ef-
fective destructive work. =,
The German war triumvirate, En-
peror William. Field Marshal Won Hin
reported behind the German lines while
the attack is in progress.
What Breach Might Mean.
Behind the British lines is the devas-
tated area over which the Germans re-
treated last March. Field Marshal Won
Hindenburg declared at the time that
the devastation was carried out not
,ol
to provide "a battlefield for the future.
The German attack may be only a
fefnt, but a large breach in the British
lines might involve the safety of Paris
and Amiens and the French channel
ports from the mouth. Of the Seine to
Belgium.
German artillery fire also has been
intense on a lengthy front north of the
La Basse canal and in the Ypres Sec
tor in Flanders On the French front
the Germans have carried out minor
attacks northeast of Verdun and in
attempts with loss.
British monitors and naval aircraft
have made a combined attack on Os-
tend. Belgium. German aerial and
submarine base, and British seaplanes
have attacked enemy mine sweepers
hear Helgoland with machine gun fire
In the attack on Ostend British air.
fnen brought down Ave German ma.
EulucSb WuIaC tu1 AAiVAAsSAS SSAAASeSA wv
Nhe town heavily.
Great Satisfaction in London.
LONDON, March 2z-The eagerly
AWAITED British official statement OF
today. which was expected to give fur.
Sther details Of the tremendous fighting
indicated in last nights reports, wa.
read with great satisfaction in SO far a,
it revealed that the enemy had beer
held and had suffered great losses
II this turns out to be the great Ger
man offensive that has been predicted
the preliminary round appears to hay'
gone in favor Of the entente, although
as the Official report points out. fur
ther heavy fighting Is stiIl to be- ex
pected
The tremendous artillery duel va,
heard more distinctly than ever in Ken
last night Houses were continual,
shaken a. the result of the violent con
cussionA
British Holding Enemy.
The great battle on the western from
continued until late last night. the wa
Office repor1A The British are holding tn,
enemy. Ihe statement follows:
The fighting continued until q late hou
last nighf ON the whole front between tn,
river Q1se and the river Sensee. Ou
troops Continue to hold the enemy in tllef
! hxftle pcsitions 70;
- eiug ths enenxss atxae1p yesterds.