The sun., 1918-04-08
Enemy Storms Across
Marshes to Take Pierre
mandc and FOlembray.
PARIS STILL CONFIDENT
FOch's Withholding Of His
Reserves Taken as SuWst
Evidence of It.
AMIENS Is MADE SAFER
Sharp Fighting Near Albert
Results in Recovery of
Ave1uy Wood by British.
AMIENS Is MADE SAFER

LONDON. April I.-Ijerlln reports to-
night additional successes for the
German arms south Of the Disc in the
effort to break through the French
line and begin march down the
valley Of the river to Paris. The vil-'
lagos Of Pierremnnde and Folembray
were taken from the French; these
are about five miles south Of Amigny,
which was captured yesterday, ac.
cording to the German statement.
In the German attack yesterday
south OF the Disc, near Amigny, the
Kaiser'S troops forced q passage over,
the mnrshy lands and took the sub
urbs of Chauny by storm. At the
same time other forces attacked from
the east and captured the French po-
sition near Amigny and also tho
northeastern part Of Coucy Wood.
Berlin reports that they reached the
line of Bichancourt. Autreville and
the north border Of Barisls and took
], 400 French prisoners.
The French night report ignores
the fighting south OF the Disc. 1t
Mentions only u German attack near
Hangard. on the Luce River, four.
teen miles south Of Albert, which
wAk stopped by artillery fire, and n
strong German assault northeast Of
Hill 344. - the eastern bank Of the
Mcuse. in which the French took
twenty-three petaoners.
Hais Ressas AveIuy Wood.
On the British front there was no
resumption of heavy fighting to-day,
Field Marshal Halg reports tonight.
Two attacks were made by the Ger
mans today at Rucquoy. Il little south
OF Arras, hut were stopped by the
British artillery fire. In sharp fight
ing just below Albert the British re-
gained Aveluy Wood, which the Ger.
mans had taken from them yesterday.
In the fighting last night west of
Noyon the French counter attack was
successful In forcing the Germans to
relinquish the foothold which they had
gained in the French position. \ sharp
attack BY the Germans at Grivesnes,
near the point of the salient west OF
Montdidier was repuised by the
French.
Theory Of New Attack.
The German attacks on the lef. bank
OF the River Disc are taken by some
military critics as indicating that the
enemy. finding himself cramped in ths
salient his offensive has created toward
Montdider and Amiens Is seeking more
elbow room, as without /. he will be
unable 20 deploy his masses in Hirden.
burg style.
The retirement OF the French 10 posi-.
tions prepared in advance causes no un-
easncss. Paris is learning to neglect
IN the Official coinmuniGues smaller de-
tails. the significance Of which appears
only to those having the whole situation
hforo them.
People should not allow themselves
to be hypnotized by the official bull
letns.' said a high official whose adj
Vice seems to have been accepted IN
battle like this" he added. bulletins
showing more or less important advances
and retreats are simply geographical
summaries which convey little mean-
ing except TO those who are directing
the operations
Gains Are Hollow Ones.
People ask, Will the Bochcs get
Amiens"
MY reply is perhaps they will 1.
Gen. Foch can smash moro German d.
visions By letting them in than by keep
lnIr NH ,iru
more important than are towns. ana
what has happened in this battle does
not show on the map.
'Gsrmanys gains look like fat,
juicy pear to the newspaper reader, but
the Kaiser knows how hollow II is at
the core.
Gen. Ludendorf IS being fenced with
and hustled not by our main forces hut
by little more than our covering troop.
and II It Is no time for Dragging and
overconfidence neither Ia It the time
for rervousness over little fluctuations
in the battle fronts"
All those who approach the French
General Staff share the confidence OF
this official.
Premier Clenenceau. returning from
his almost daily visits TO the field OF
operations. brings back the same note,
and he has earned a new title. that OF
confidence barometer" That barometer
has been for many days fixed at fair
and now It 10 rising.
Cen Foch. II Is now generally under
stood. will not be drawn by the Ger
mans. but will hold his reserves for tho
moment chosen by him v
wait a bit. Wait hit" Thus tho
Entente alliei supreme commander re-
plies with a characteristic sweep OF his
arm when asked about the future Gen.
Foch's calm deliberation IL compared