The sun., 1918-04-09
Enemy Suffers Enormous
Casualties in Battle
Along Ailette.
OISE LINE HOLDS FIRM
Violent Big Gun Attack on
Sector Between NOyOn
and MOntdidier.
PRESSURE IN FLANDERS
From La Bassc to the Junction
British Lines Arc Under o :,
Heavy Shclling.
OISE LINE HOLDS FIRM
PRESSURE IN FLANDERS

LONDON, April s.--whlle their guns
pounded the entire allied line along .
front OF more than nifty miles. the Ger
man forces in France to-day concen.
trated their main infantry effort upon
the salient toward Coucy wood, whore
they made some gains, forcing the.
French to retire TO prepared positions
slightly in the rear toward the Ailette
River. German pressure on the south.
ern bank OF the Disc was especially
heavy. and Berlin asserts the French
retired to the outskirts OF the wood.
Paris admits tho continued pressure
in this region and elsewhere north OF
the Ailette. The French compelled the
enemy to pay dearly for any tempo
rary advantage he may have gained.
both artillery and machine guns. in
addition to the fire OF the infantry.
playing upon the massed German
ranks.
Tho days artillery engagements were
particularly violent at many points, es-
pecially In the valley OF the Somne.
Between Montdldier and Noyon there
was q heavy gun concentration Of ter.
| rife power.
The German guns all along the line
apparently are trying to clear the way
for a new infantry thrust which will
enable them to widen their front and
escape from several positions where they
muat either gain more advantageous Ter.
rain Or retire. The battle extends from
Ia Bassee Canal to the region east Of
Laon. q distance of 100 miles. although
only in sections has the artillery pound.
ing attained tho intensity OF drumfire.
North Of Lens, east OF Arras. along the
new front running through Buequoy to
Albert. south to Montdidler and east
past Lassigny and Noyon. to a point be-
yond Chauny. the enemy il exerting
pressure OF the most terrific kind.
! Reserve still Held Intact.
| The majority Of the allied reserve
still remains behind the lines. and ts III
activity evidently is proving puzzle to
tho Germans. who realize that AN inn
mense force is ready to turn upon their
dec!mated divisions at whatever moment
Gen Foch. the allied Commander in
Chief. deems opportune.
The enemy IL at disadvantage in
| A''S.he eh' HbHtli6 iOT >l1ii"I!S, AS tNHt
! city Is protected by row Of hills which
form natural bulwarls ana which tho
French are said to have fortified
strongly.
At all points where the Germans use
! infantry they continue to throw the
troops In In masses and tho allied guns
! take their usual frigh,ful toll Of them.
No additional statements have been is
! sued in regard to prisoners captured b.
j IN $rI xA~N
captures in the new fighting have
! reached 1000. presun,ah ahly all French.
| British Make small Advance.
Field Marshal Hais tonight sub.
, mitted laconlc report. in which he said
/ there was nothing of note except art,l-
lery activity. which was especially heavy
! south OF Fuc9uoy, Raiding operations
| continue AT various points. but are Of
purely local Importance. The British
last night made a small advance on the
southern bank of the Somme.
| An Associated Press correspondent
with the British forces telegraphs that
north OF the River Scarpe and south Of
the Eon,me River German guns are con.
| Quoting an unusually heavy lombard
| ment such as heretofore has indicated
! an impending attack. No infantry ac-
tion. however. has been reported UP 70
o'clock this morning.
Gas Shells in Lens sector.
From s o'clock las. night unit, mid
night the enemy heavily bonbarded with
gas shells the area between Cite ST;
| Emile and La Bassee Canal. in the Lens
sector. The Germans also threw large
quantities Of gas east OF Armentleres.
The hostile artillery fire was above nor
| nNo skA .k..t- ~
front north OF the Scarpe.
Late last night the German guns also
were very active In the area south Of
Nillers- -Bretonneuy. below the Somne
Again this morning at $50 o'clock tho
German gnnners opened n terrific nre
southwest OF Hangard wood. AboSt an
hour later the hostile artillery broke out
agains, the French front Just south Of
the British.
Throughout Sunday the German gun.
ming WAS unusually heavy in the region
OF Arras.
OmciRI Com m nj lea tiOns.
The ofYiciai statements follow:
FRENCH lNIGHTD--During the
course Of the day the enemy pressure
continued north of the Aii,tte River
In the region OF the lower toucy for
est, The advanced sections OF our
,ro 1ps resisted and hindered the al.
varce of tho enemy. who was In great
: ~ superior numbers, INJECTING upon
him heavy losses.
On the Somme front, between Mont!
dld!er and Noyon, there was no infan.
try action. but tho two artilleries dis.
played spirited activity.
In the Vosgcs an enemy attacle
failed north q! Tete de Faux.
FRENCH DAY|-The night was
marked by violent artillery actions;
especially on the left bank OF tho Disc.
F'rsuch patrols were very active.
bringing IN prisoners.
On the left ban,: OF the Mouse ana