Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-04-02
ELEMENTS jUlV FORCES WITH ALLIES, HINDER HUN
Rains Make GaptnreA Terrain Sea oi $h2i Torn Nud, V hic Allies on >olid i'roufld- Expect Ten
 tom Blow Against
 Italy.

(Associated Press War .Sunmary.) While the advance of the German army in Pieardy has come almost to a halt there has been severe fight in@ on the extreme western end of the battle front. Encounters ia which large forces have been anaa eed have occurred north of Moreuil, but there seems to have been no decided ad- vantage gained by the Teutonic in- vaders. They claim to have taken heights and to have carried a wood in advance of their liue near Moreuil, but the British say they have driven the enemy from positions they have occupied elsewhere in this sectic7, The French lines further south have stood firm against savage assaults, especially in the regicn of Montdi9ier and eastward of that place, along a part of the line which was subject ed to a terrific strain for two days late last week. A number of sect ors the French have sureed forward and taken hard earned ground from the Germans. and have establi he'd their line solidly along the Oise riy- CT
 The expected allied counter offen- sive has not yet come but, the Ger mans. who are reported to be en- trenching the French front, evidently expect it there.
 Elements Aid Allies. x
 The elements have been at work in delaying the German advance. Rains are reported along the French and British fronts. Wet weather. if continued would handicap further ad- vance or the Germans and he of in- finite value to the allies, who are moving their forces and supplies ov- CT solid earth instead of ground Which has been churned into a con- dltlon where every stop is heset by difficulties.
 The chief German efforts apparent ly have been in the region of More uil and Albert. Around these places there has been stern fighting with the Germans hurling their fighting men at the allied lines in serried ranks, which have been moved down by artillery machine gun and rifled fire. The effort in the Morcuil region is considered as being an attempt to reach the Paris-Amiens railroad. which is aour nJiles idistant. yrhe railroad which was cut at Montdidier was banch of this Paris-Amien road, but it's possession means little to the Germans
 Americans on Way.
 The beginning of April, a month whose dates are written large on the pages of American history, found the soldiers of the United States hasten- ing to their places in the zone of fiarcest fighting. There have been American troops enyolved in the struggle in Picardy since the morn ing of March 23, but General Persh- ing now is leading more than 10o.- 900 of his men, but just how many Is yet as not known, to a point as signed to them by General F7och, the leader of the allied forces in Francs. These men may even now be in the battle line, and America awaits news from them with confidence that they will compare well with the veterans of France and Great Britain.
 A report from General Pershing to the war department states that the situation along the battle sront is im- proved He did not give any infor- mation regarding the movement of his troops. s sa :.
 Italy May be. Struck.
 It is not probab1aNhats sthe German general staff will be tontent with the situation as it stands todavsF Many believe that there is in ufelN Nrat.on another giant blow against Italys Ofs ficiaH reports from Rome say that 7 there has been .consideraAle E sEc