Evening star., 1918-04-08
GERMANS KEEP UP ATTACKS.
TRYING FOR BETTER GROUND
Engagements At Many Points on Line Would
Be Great Battles In Any
Other War.

BY the Associated Press.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE, April ATTACKS and counter
attacks continue to spring up at vari-
Gus points along the British battle
front. While none of them has seemed
large as compared with the intense
conflict waged in the first days of the
German offensive, yet all of them are
important, in that they represent the
foundation work for bigger events to
come.
Twice last evening and again this
morning the Germans undertook to
advance at points in the sector north
and south of Albert and each time they
considerable enemy force advanced for
an attack in the vicinity OF Bucquoy.
north Of Albert.
Broken Up by Artillery.
The Germans were seen coming while
they were still a mile away and the
British. artillery and machine guns put
down such an intense barrage among
them that the projected assault was stop
ped. Some time afterward the enemy re-
formed his forces and made another ef-
use Of infantry.
One of the attacks last evening was
deliverd southwest Of Albert, where the
enemy had been battling SO determinedly
to get strong hold on the Albert-Amiens
railway. Under cover of havy machine
gun barrage the German infantry surged
forward against the British line. but
was met with such q withering rife and
machine gun FIRE that 1t was compelled
to retire.
Tho other onslouobt vas atternnted pAar
Serre. south Of Hebuterne. Two short.
but intense, periods OF barrage fire were
put down on tho British defepses. At
7:3o O'Clock the German infantry rush
ed forward in heavy force As the Ger
mans advanced they were caught in q
tornado Of British artillery fire which
plowed mercilessly through their ranks
and completely smashed them.
Scene Of Cruel Fighting.
Further fighting occurred today at Han
gard wood. which has been the scene
OF much cruel fighting in the last few
days. The British. in the early hours. de-
ivered counter attacks by which they
forced the enemy back somewhat and
took a few prisoners. According to the
the western edge Of this wood. In this
connection it is interesting to note that
German prisoners have stated the enemy
planned q strong attack at Hangard wood
today.
The German efforts today at Bucquoy
and yesterday near Serre were continua-
tions Of their strenuous attempts to get
themselves out Of nasty position in
which they found themselves in this re-
gion and in which they have been since
the big drive was stopped in the last
days Of March.
At this point the Germans are hold
ing a very sharp salient which bulges
out into British territory along q line
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terne. Colinoamps. Auchonviilers and
Hamel. This salient is somewhat
saucer-shaped, the outer edge being on
high ground. Upon these elevations
retirement. and since then have sue
cessfully def1ed the enemy to dislodge
them.
Germans In Poor Position.
Within the salient is an inhospitable
zone which formed a part Of no mans
land in the first battle Of the Somme.
unpleasant place over which to con-
duct operations. Not only is the
ground bad. but the whole sector is
dominated by British machine guns,
which send never-ending streams of
bullets swfrling down into the enemy
camps. which present excellent targets.
If the Germans were to start the sec
ond phase of their grand offensive now
and were forced to kick orr from
their present position in this salient.
they would encounter tremendous diffi-
culties in maintaining satisfactory
communications across the desert which
lies just back of their front line. They
need the high ground on the edge Of
their saucer before they can begin q
big attack. SO that they can get their
guns forward, for otherwise the artil-
lery would be outdistanced and every
thing would depend upon the infantry.
10
attacks were made last Friday by the
Germans. Four more or less fresh
divisions were brought up for this
operation and a huge number Of guns
were brought into play. especially over
the back areas. Considerable quanti-
ties of gas also were thrown into the
vicinity Of FonQuevillers. indicating
that the Germans did not intend to try
to advance to a great depth, since this
gas hangs about for a long time.
British Take Some Ground.
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