The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-04-24
(By Associated Press.)

The drive on Amiens, for which the
Germans plunged desperately but fail
ed to reach In their great offensive
last month was resumed today
In the effort to push forward this
important junction point and allied
base, renewed after a two weeks in
terval in which the main German ef-
fort was transferred to Flanders, the
enemy this morning launched a heavy
attack on a front of approximately 20
miles.
The line at which the German in
fantry Is again being thrown extends
from the district north Of Albert,
northeast of Amiens, to the Ayre riy-
er, southeast Of the city. Nearly all
this front is held by the British.
The attack here represents a con-
tinuation OF the persistent German ef-
fort to push in between the French
and the British by striking heavy
piows near their point of junction.
British Not Surprised.
The comparatively narrow field In
which the enemy could attack with
reasonable expectations of profit to
himself has thus given the allies warn
ing largely eliminated the element of
surpnse, which was SO strong a fac
tor in the earlier German success and
doubtless has led to the massing of
strong Anglo-French forces at the
point where the Germans are now
striking
The Germans have been working up
a strong artillery fire along virtually
the whole British southern front for
several days following the easing Of
their pressure on the Flanders front,
but the preliminary intensive lombard
ment was only Of comparative short
duration. The drum fire began early
this morning followed shortly by the
advance Of the infantry.
What apparently was intended as a
surprise blow, without notable artillery
preparation was launched by the Ger
mans at dusk last evening northwest
of Albert. The British were on the
alert, however, and met the advance
with hail of rifle and machine gun
fire, driving back the enemy.
Meanwhile the enemy has main
tained sufficient pressure in Flanders
to keep the Anglo-French forces well
occupied there. Not only has the ar
tillery bombardment been heavy in
many sectors, but last night there was
erly side of the Lys salient. The
French were guarding this region
and they repulsed the assault after
sharp fighting, the artillery co-operat-
ing with the British guns in severely
Furnishing the enemy. In view OF the
report from both the Somme and the
Flanders front, the possibility sug-
gests itself that the Germans may be
simultaneously resuming major at
tacks in each area with Amiens in the
one sector and Bethune or Hze-
brouck in the other as the respective
objectives.
British Take Prisoners.
Along both battle fronts in France
the cannon continue to roar nightly.
From north Of Ypres to south of Yer
dun, the big guns are active and the
Germans especially SO in the region
south of Albert; south of the Somme
and around Noyon.
Field Marshal Haig is improving his
position on the Flanders field by sue
cessful local attacks. In the vicinity
of Robecq, at the apex of the salient.
he has again advanced his lines slight
ly, capturing more than 100 prisoners
and some machine guns. Success also
attended local attack by the British
near Meteren, west of Bailleul and the
nearest point to Hazebrouck the Ger.
mans have reached.
In making their apparently success
full attack on the German submarine
nests at Zeebrugge and Ostend the
British fleet, assisted by the French,
has given the German fleet something
to ponder over. British sailors are
marines who have returned from the
gallant enterprise report that the gate
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