The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-22

L Nor were the German efforts con- centrated on the front held by the British. Early Thursday morning the Germans assaulted the French lines near the village of Ornes, to the north east of Verdun, and claim to have penetrated considerable distance. Near Rheims, too, the French were subjected to an assault, but here the artillery bore the burden of the light ing.
 The attacks at yerdun and Rheians, fl however. may be considered for the \ time being as mere diversions to the principal attnck, which has been loosesl against the British. They would serve to keep French forces nt Verdun and Rheims from being transferred to the British sector, if that part of the bat tie line should show any signs of bending bnck.
 Nothing has been reported as
 to attacks on the lines held by
 the Americans. It had been expect
 cd that the Germans would make
 m assault on the American-heId
 trenches in the Lorraine and Toui
 sectors, acting on the theory that
 troops which have not had ex-
 perience in engasements of the
 first degree might be found to
 yield easier than veterans. That
 such m attack may yet he
 launched, and with only slight arr
 tnIery preparation, Is within the
 possibilities.
 The activity in the American
 sectors during the past three
 weeks would indicate that the
 Germans have been concerned with
 the disposition of General Per-
 shingss legions, their probable
 strength and the locations of the
 batteries supporting the infantry
 holding the lines.
 The Germans have called upon the Austrian army for assistance in their effort to carry the battle to the entente allies. for the official reports from Ser lin say that Hungarian artillery Is engaged along the western front. Il is probable that the great Austrian how tiers. or Skodas, have been used against the stronger sectors of the British lines
 FRENCH REPULSE ATTACK
 The French official reports state that the Germans have been sanguinarily repuised in number of engagements notably on the verdun and Lorraine fronts.
 The city of Kherson, 92 miles north east of Odessa, has been captured by the Tertonic forces This is an important commercial town and possesses nne harbor.
 Two German destroyers and two tor pedo boats are believed to have been destroyed in a naval battle of Dun kirk The Germans came out Of one ol their bases in Belgium and commencec an attack on the city of Dunkirk. Frenef and British torpedo boats trapped the enemy warships and visited sound pun ishment upon them One British 5oa' bombarded by British monitors or Thursday and British seaplanes dropped |shells on Helgoland.
 SHIPPING LOSSES
 The British embassy at Washington has announced that since the beginnini of the war 1,S27,5 ,572 tons of British ship ping have been destroyed. During tn, year of 1917. 6,72S623 tons, or over hal the total loss during the conflict. wer' lost.
 American forces have engaged in {
  lfought hand to hand with the enemy A brief artillery fire preceded the raid which was made in conjunction witt the French.
 Reports from Amsterdam are to tn, efect that semi-official negotiations fo Ipeace are on foot between Germany ans kho entente allies. and that Germa n. Mas evidenced a strong inclination fo keacer This report does not coincid' Ewith the reported telegram from Elm pcror William to the Schleswig- -HolstefI Council in which the Emperor said:
 "The prize of victory must not ant vtll not fail us-no soft peace. but on, which corresponds with Gemany's in kerests.'
 Reports from Buenos Aires are to th' |effect that the Amazon. a 10.0O0stol liner of the Royal Mail Steam Packe bompany. has been sunk by q submarine ht n said that all on board were saved