Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-04-08
Failing to Break Thru in
Second Phase of Battle
Huns Will Try Again.
INTENSE ARTILLERY
FIRE ALONG FRONT
Germans Make Futile Effort to Widen
Salient by Attempt to Drive Back
-renchmen in Chauny-leGeFer Sec
tor-Freneh Retir toHisher Ground.
Withdrawing Forces From Marshes
Americans Defending Amiens Roda

for another heavy attack on the
western front. Heavy drum fire
is reported along sectors held by
the British, while the Paris war
office announces violent artillery
action along the French front.
The most intensive German fire
seems to be III progress south Of
the Somme and north of the Scarpe
on the British left flank.
In the somme sector the British
everywhere have been trying to
baetter their position in anticipa-
ton Of the German push and Field
Marshal Haig today reports
sIioht advance on the Somme.
The increased artillery fire north
Of the Scarpe may mean renewal
of the German thrust toward Ar
ras, which broke down at the ap-
proaehes Of vimy ridge. They have
have shown their anxiety to push
forward their lines to the northern
area Of the field, to improve their
salient, but have found the. British
line virtually immovable from Al
bert northWard.
"a still further extension Of the,
battle northward may be indicated
ins'a hsavy gas attack on the Brit
ish lire on = six mile front between
Lens and the LaBassee canal and
east Of Armentieres, dozen miles
from LaBassse.
The Germans are likewise pound
ing the French lines south Of the
oise, the extreme allied right on
the present active fighting front.
The French have retired from
their dangerous salient here ard
are reported we'll established in
positions prepared along the ALL
Iette river.
In the chauny- coucy-LaFere
triangle along the Disc on the ex-
treme eastern end Of the southern
front Of the battle line the French
have retired to higher ground.
Correspondents at, the British
front say signs arc not wanting
that the Germans are preparing
to launch another heavy attack in
an effort to reach Amiens.
Enemy efforts north Of the
Somme recently have been aimed
at capture Of artillery positions but
the efforts have failed.
British and French aviators have
brought down thirty one enemy
machines, while Berlin reports the
destruction Of eighteen allied ma
chimes.
The enemy attempted an attack
near eucuquoy, twenty miles north
of the Sommo, but their efforts
were broken up by British artillery
fire. Immediately south Of the
Somme there has been only local
fighting.
Berlin claims advances near
couey and around the lower forest
Of coucy. No mention of fighting
here isl made in Paris. South Of
chauny the ground is low and
marshy, especially along the Disc
river and the Disc canal. Folem-
bray, sixty five miles northeast Of
Paris, and Pierremande, reported
captured by Berlin, are on the low
lands between the forests Of Disc
and couey.
Whsther the actions between the
Disc and coucy are designed as
feint to draw the French attention
from more important work or as
the, beginning Of an attempt to
force the French back to the Aisne
remains for developments to show.
Up TO the present tho Germans
have gained only tho marshy
ground along the Disc and the low
lying ground between the Disc and
che ,couey az we'll az the lower
forest Of couey which was denuded
Of trees in the retreat Of the Ger
manslin March, 1917. Facing them
now are the heights Of Noyon,
aeross the AiIIette to the famous
chemin Dss- DANES sector.
American troops on the front
northwest OF Tou! have success
fully countered German attempts
70 raid their positions. Two raids
were made at two different points
Sunday. but each was dealt with
effectively with>sraehine iuuns and
automatic rife fire. The enemy
advanced no farther than the out
posts.
On Friday the Americans also
checked two raids. The first was
taken care Of easily. while the Soc
ond time the Americans l@ft their
positiuns and drove the Germ-rs
Into their support positions. Tho
American artillery siIeneed two
German batteries.
General Pershine's men still
maintain their splendid defense
sast Of the An,iens- Paris railway.
Ths German ne have tried to advanc.
nsrlh ~ the AmiSns; Reye road,