The Sentinel=record. (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1900-current, 1918-04-06


/ which has lasted since Thursday. and
which probably is still continuing
with utmost fury the Germans have
. been hurting massed divisions
against the British and French lines
from far north of Albert to a short
distance north of Mont Didier
Probably there has not been a more
sanguinary battle fought since the
beginning of the Teutonic offensive,
March q, than this, which has for its
objective the driving of a wedge be-
tween the British and French armies,
the cutting of the Paris Amiens rail
road south of Amiens and the capture
of that city.
But in spite of the powerful attack
and the desperation OF the fighting
the entente allied legions have stood
firm over the most of their front At
only two points have they been forced
to give ground, and these seem on
the map, to be only minor successes
when compared with the sacrifice of
lives which they have cost
Just to the southwest of Albert the
British have Withdrawn short dis
lance and the French have given up
the village of Castel, west of Moreuil,
which has been the storm center of
the German assaults for the last few
days At this point the Teutons are
within three miles of the Paris
Amiens road
The German official statement
claims that successes both north and
south of the Somme have been won
and that the number of prisoners
taken since the beginning of the drive
has increased to 10000 and the guns
captured now total 1900.
It seems probable that the entente
allies have abandoned their Fabian
tactics and now are prepared to give
/ battle to the Germans. They have
fixed their lines about twelve miles
east of the city of Amiens and it is
evident that here they have turned at
bay against the invaders
The contour of the country back
Of the allied lines lends itself to de-
fensive tactics 1t Is quite high and
is Of a character which compels at
lacking forces to expose themselves
to concentrations of fire from artil-
lery and infantry. 1t is necessary for
the Germans to break through the
British and French lines in this re-
gion or to outflank the allies by a
drive to the north and south of it.
The fighting near Albert and north
of Mont Ddier seems to have for its
object the turning of the allied posi-
lions That the Albert and Moreuil
sectors are vital to the allied defense
is shown by the stern resistance
maintained there in the last two days
The dawning Of the first anniver-
sary of the entry of the United States
into the war finds General Pershng' S
veterans somewhere in the battle
zone. How many there, what units
have been chosen for the fight, and
where they will make their first APP
pearance is not known. 1t is prob
able, however, that an American army
of some proportions is either actually
in the struggle or is held in reserve
Immediately behind the lines
In spite of the terrific strain &c
which they have been subjected, the
allies have struck back at the Ger
mans and have reeained some ground
One of these points is near Grives-
mes, short distance northwest oil
Mont Didier, another near Hebuterne
and another between Mont Didier and
Noyon, near the village of Orvillers
Sorel 1t is In this region that the
great allied counter attack has beer
expected to be launched So far as
reported no infantry attacks have
been made on this front by the Ger
mans, but their artillery has beer
active as far west as Noyon.
The line on the northern side of thu
salient also has been bombardet
heavily.
There have been artillery engage
ments in various sectors of the Bel
gian and French front outside OF thu
battle area in Picardy. The city o
Rheims has again been subjected t.