Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-07-01
Crescendo of Artillery Fire
Mounts Higher on the
West Front.
ALLIES CONTINUE TO
BETTER POSITIONS
NibbIins Tactics Of British and French
Causes Germans to Prepare to Re-
act HeaviIy-Hindenburs Massing
Men and Guns on Large Part Of
Front-May Seek to Punish Ameri.
cans For Successes at Thierry.

severe battles are brewing on
the several fighting fronts. All in.
dieations point to an early re-
sumption Of fighting on the west
ern line. IN Italy the mountain
zone again 10 the scene Of intense
fighting.
The eresee.do Of the artillery
fire on the western frcnt mounts
higher ana higher. From Ypres
to Rheims tr. big guns ere buster
than they have been for days and
the Germara probably are pre-
Esrina to react heavily against the
nibbIins tactics Of tho allies. Tho
German command is known to
have large forces in readiness on
the main battIefelds Of France.
They may strike anywhere on tho
200 mile front, as their main rail.
road lines give them most elastic.
ity Of movemsnt. It is expected
also that the blow wiII be the
mishtisst 'hs enemy can make.
uneonesrnsd, apparently, about
ths German plane, the French
continue TO pIrfsct their defensive
nositiens bet~sen the Aisne and
ths Marns., sosthsast Of the for
est 81 viile,s cottsrets they have
extended their line and taken 265
prisoners, kiis north Of the for
est 100 Germans were taken in q
small advance near ST. Pierre
Aigls.
Both the French ard British con-
tinued yesterday and last night
their recently adopted program Of
prodding the Germans at various
points along the France. Belgian
line, capturing a vantage point
here and there while preparations
foc<the German offensive are under
way.
The French hit the line in local
attacks at two separate points but
both on the left side Of the Ger
man salient which projects down
from the Marine to the Aisne. They
gained ground in each attack and
took prisoners and machine guns.
The most perceptibIe gain was
northwest Of BeIieau wood. They
advanced here south Of Passy on
valois and carried their line for
ward 20 that il now runs east
Of the Chevy VinIy railway. inad-
dition they held on firmly to the
ground gained the night previous
just to The north in the region Of
Mosloy, fighting off two German
cnnnte: attacks.
Southwest Of Scissors, whore the
brilliant stroke Of last week placed
the French in strong position on
the important, Lavsrssine plateau,
they moved ahead again in the con.
ter Of their nav line, gaining
ground by the capture Of strong
point Of cutrsy.
IT. oil the French took some 225
prisoners in theos actions.
The, British stroke, which also
was . Iocal operation, was we'll to-
ward the southern end Of their line,
just above Albert. An improve
ment in the British positions was
affected here and machine guns
and prisor.srs fell into their hands.
French troops last night carried
! out an operation on the Marne
front, sout', ef the ourcq, which
resulted in the Improvement Of tho
French positions in the vicinity
( Of Passy en valois.
The Germans counter attacked
In an effort 10 recover the ground
gained by the French Saturday
NIGHT in the vicinity Of MosIoy, on
this front. The enemy was rs-
puissd, the French setainina their
now positiens In their entirety.
Taking the aggressive south Of
che Aisns the French captured a
/. German stroIg point near cutry,
southwest of soissons, adding to
their recent gains in this sector
In the operations last night moro
than 225 prisoners were taken by
che French.
British troops last night, in a
! minor operation in the region
Northwest Of Albert, effected an
Improvement in the British posi-
tiens there and captured maehinS
guns and prisoners.
The Britain raided German
cost In Avsluy wood. north Of Al.
bers, and the snemy's trenches to
ths west Of Dsrnancourt, on the
river Aners, taking q few pris-
ensrs.
Along the line northwest Of Cha
1sau Thisrry, whore the Ameri-
eans hold q sector, the Germans
ars reported concentrating troops
and supplies. Aerial fighting has
Sbeen ssysre near tho American
llneA X u not unlikely the Ger
mIano may piau 10 give the Amer
] 1oGsa0 hand hlaSw Ii naxmanf far