The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-04-18
Germans Resume Drive Toward
Amiens But Pay Heavily
For Small Gain.
F0CH'S PLAN NOT REVEALED
Hundred Thousand Cheering Ameri-
can Troops Moving Up to Battle
Front-Count Czernin's Stu
pid "Peace Otfensive"-
Evaporation Against
DisloyaIists Is
Increasing.
BY EDWARD w. PICkARD.

Halted by the magnificent defense
of the allies and, according to their
own statements. by the bad weather
prevailing, the Germans made little cf-
forts during the first part Of the week
To push farther ahead in ncardy.
Then. on Thursday. they launched Il
series of furious attacks in the region
north of Montdidicr. evidently aimed
at the AmicnS-CalaiS railway. Ten
times The Huns. 100000 strong, adj
vanccd against the Franco-BrtiSh
lines, only TO be met with dcvnStat-
ing gun fire, and in the end they had
gained but n few hundreds meters of
terrain. with three small villages, at
the cost OF many thousands Of lives
At the same time tho British be-
tween the Sommc and Avrc rivers and
near Albert. north OF AmicnS, were
subjected to heavy attacks. In the
former region General Hnig reported
that he had yielded little ground,
and on Friday the fighting still was
severe, with the allied lines holding
we'll.
Earlier In the week there were daily
local operations Mt many points on
the battle front, but these were mostly
undertaken by tho British and French
for the purpose of improving their DO
sitions. and usually were successful.
The rccapture OF Aycttc, south Of Ar
ras, the center OF ferccly contested
sector, by the British. and the rotak-
Ing of Hangard-en-S -Santcrre by the
Franco-British forces were apparently
the most important Of these enter
prises. In both Of them the Huns lost
heavily
The period of comparative quiet was
utilized by both sides in strengthening
their lines and bringing up rc.cnforce-
mentS and supplies for the renewal Of
the battle, which was regarded as in
| evitah'c. No intimation was given Of
| the plans Of either the Germans or the
allies. and there was considerable won
der In America ut least that the ex-
pectcd countcrattack by the allied re.
serve army did not begin. 1t may be
| thnt General Foch is planning to strike
ut some sector yet ungucssed. He Is
recognized as one of the best Of STRAIT
egists.
|
Since The kaiser has promised his
people big victory, there is every
prospect of long period Of bloody
lighting, with further heavy losses for
the Germans. Already the casualties
of the Huns have been staggering, the
estimate of the French being between
100000 and 100000. Those of the Brit
ish and French have been unexpcctcd-
| ~ light, perhaps not more than 130.-
600, including thc considerable num-
bcr Of prisoners
Artillery work was almost contnu-
GUS during tho week and especially
| vigorous in the Montdidicr region and
north of that toward Amicns. The
Germans admit they have had much
difficulty In getting their heavy guns to
the front, owing to the mud and the
destruction of roads by the allies. Also
their transport is so slow that they
are short Of food and ammunition.
Presumably In order to help in clear
ing up the congestion and preparing
for a resumption OF the checked ad-
vance, Field Marshal Won Mackcnsen
went to the west front from Berlin
| Wednesday.
-En-
or vital interest to the United
| States IS the pnrt our soldiers are to
| play in the continuation OF the great
battle. offered to the allies without