Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1918-03-28
TERRIFIC STORM OF ARTILLERY
FIRE OVER FRONT OF so
MILES.
NO ATTACK on AMERICANS
Bonar Law Says Attack Had Been Ex-
pected and Great Preparations Made
to Meet It-French at verdun Also
Assaulted.

Exactly % months after the Ger.
mans began the historic battle of Yer
un, the thunder of their guns deepen
ed into a tempest of fire along the
British front in Northern France and
they began what may be the greatest
battle of the war, struggle which
may lead to results which will shape
the destinies of millions Of people
over coming centuries.
The attack was made on a scale
hitherto unknown during this war of
major offensives. 1t was over front
of so 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 Haigs men.
The bombardment began at o'clock
lust before the early spring dawn was
breaking over eastern France. Shells
of large and small calibers were rain
ed upon the lines held by the British
for about five hours. Then German in
fantry stormed out to make the first
great assault. The Germans, favored
by the wind, moved forward under
cover of pail of smoke which hid the
assaulting columns from the eyes Of
the British holding the front lines.
Describing the battle, Andrew b.
mar Law informed the house of COM
mons that lightly held portions of the
British line had been withdrawn, but
said that there was no need for alarm
on the part of the country. The cor
respondent at the British front re-
ports that an attack there had been
expected and that great preparations
had been made to meet it, The Ber-
lin official report says that the Ger
mans have penetrated into some Brit
ish positions.
Nor were the German efforts con.
centrated on the front held by the Brit
ish. The Germans assaulted the
French lines near the village of Ornes,
to the northeast of Verdun, and claim
to have penetrated considerable dis
lance Near Rheims. too, the French
were subjected to an assault; but
here the artillery fire bore the burden
of the fighting.
The attacks at Verdun and Rheims,
however, may be considered for the
time being as mere diversions to the
principal attack, which has been loos.
ed against the British. They would
serve to keep French forces at Verdun
and Rheims from being transferred
to the British sector, il that part of
the battle line should show any signs
of bending back
No Report from United States Lines.
Nothing has been reported as to
attacks on the lines held by the
Americans. 1t had been expected that
the Germans would make an assault
on the American-held trenches in the
Lorraine and Toul sectors acting on
the theory that troops which have
not had experience in engagements of
the first degree might be found to
yield easier than veterans. That such
an attack may be launched, and with
only slight artillery preparation, is
within the possibilities.
The activity on the American sec.
tors during the past three weeks
would indicate that the Germans
have been concerned with the DISPOSE,
tion of General Pershing's legions
their probable strength and the loca.
tions of the batteries supporting the
infantry holding the lines.
The French official reports state
that the Germans have been san
guinarily repulsed in number of en-
gagements, notably on the Verdun and
T0rroino fronts