The Elbert County tribune., 1918-04-05
FRENCH REPEl
MAREuIL BLOW
Focn's MEN GAIN GROUND NEAR
PLEmoNT AND CAPTURE
PRISONERS.
TEUTONS LOSE AYETTE
SPIRITED ENGAGEMENTS RE-
PORTED BETWEEN soMME
AND oIsE RIVERS.


Western Newspaper Union News Service
Paris, April "A German attack
north of Moreuil was repulsed by the
French fire, and the enemy was>una-
BILE to gain footing in any part of the
French positions, the war office an
nounces. except at one point
Ottawa, Ont, April 4.-The follow
ing dispatch was received from Reu-
ter's correspondent at British head
quarters in France:
"Our airmen report much movement
of troops. guns and transport in enemy
regions, but Germans are experiencing
unexpected difficulties in this regard.
While for once the weather is turning
against active operations, 1t Is be-
lieved the Germans are bound to
strike again as soon as possible and as
hard as possible, or admit failure.
which alternative would be fraught
with reaction from which the high
command shrinks.
''The enemy has made the supreme
test and although he> is capable OF
cessiye blow will be weaker than the
last" y,
Although the fighting activity along
the entire front of the new Somme Of
fensive remains slight, there still pre-
walls the feeling that battles on a
large scale will begin again soon. with
the allied troops, after the respite of
several days, strongly arrayed In bat
tie formation and eager to test their
strength against that of the foe.
From the Somme to the Oise river,
along that portion of the battle line
which bulges out toward Amiens. All
ly and Breteuil. the big guns of the
opposing side have opened in duels of
great proportions and It apparently is
not unreasonable to assume that
either side ct any moment may take
the offensive with their infantry in
resumption of battle which ranks
among the greatest the world has ever
seen.
Since the beginning OF the present
week there has been no marked
change in the alignment OF the oppos-
ing sides from ArraJ southwark to
Chauny. The fighting has lacked the
sanguinary character of the previous
days, owing in part, no doubt, to the
extremely bad weather conditions.
Neither the Germans nor the allies
have been idle, however, for daily
there has been going on a reinforce
ment of strategic positions. both In
man and gun power for the coming en-
gagements upon which 1t Is conceded
30 much depends for the victors.
In the vicinity of Lens, artillery
duels of intensity have been revived
on some sectors and In Belgium at
various points reciprocal shelling con-
tinues. In both these regions, howev-
er, the infantry has kept to the
trenches. except for patrols and recon-
noitering purposes. An American sec
tor has been heavily attacked with
gas and line around Toul is shelled.
In the Italian theater there still is
no indication of when the expected
big battle between the Italians and the
Teutonic allies will burst. but daily
there is increasing activity all along
the front.
i'AitAoh eioOPos dltCi obai iiSniin6s
repulsed determined attack by the
Germans in the neighborhood of Fam
poux, the war office announced.
The town of Ayette (about eight
miles southwest of Arras lis again In
British possession, the statement an
nounces.
Paris, April 4.-The war office an
nouncement last night says: There
was no infantry action during the
course of the day. Quite violent ar
tillery fighting was maintained in the
region north of Montdidier. especial
ly between Demuin and Hangard-er-
Santerre. 1t was quiet everywhere
else"
Austria on Verge of Peace Pariey,