Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-04-09
BIG GUNS ROARING
At SEVERAL POINTS
ON WESTERN FRONT
Sundays Fighting Melted the
Germans a Gain of -Four
Miles Deep on a Five-MiIe
Front Near Noyon

NEW YORK, April Shy European
Cables tc the Associated Press. Ger
many apparently is preparing for an
other big effort on the wide battle front
in northern France. Heavy drumfire.
such as usually precedes an attack. is
reported along extensive sectors held
by the British, while the Paris war Of
fee also announces violent artillery ac-
tions along the French front.
The most intensive German fire seems
to be in progress south of the Somme,
where the direct drive toward Amiens
is on, and north of the Scarpe river,
toward the British left flank. In the
Somme sector the British have evident
ly been trying to better their position
in anticipation of the next German push,
and Field Marshal Haig reports today
slight advance of his line on the south
bank of the Somme, east of vaire-Sous-
Corbie.
The increase in the artillery fire
north OF the Scarpe river may mean q
renewal by the Germans of their thrust
towards Arras, which broke down utter
ly earlier in the battle against the
southern approaches to Vimy Ridge.
They have shown their intense anxiety
to push forward their lines in the north
ern part OF the battle area to diminish
the danger OF their salient to the south
in an allied counter blow, but have found
the British line virtually immovsble all
along the front from Albert northward-
A still further extension of the bat
tie northward may be indicatedS as
well, in the beginning of a heavy at
tack with gas shells upon the British
lines on the six-mile front between
Lens and La Bassee canal and east IF
Armentleres. a dozen miles north Of La
BaSsee.
The Germans are likewise pounding
the French lines south of the Disc, the
extreme allied right on the present ac-
tive fighting front. The French have
retired from their dangerous salient
here however, and are reported Wen
established in positions which had Deed
prepared along the Ailette river, which
offers an excellent holding point.
Shifting their main attack from the
regions of Montdidier and Albert, the
Germans have advanced maximum
depth of four miles on a five-mile front
at the extreme southern flank of their
offensive front, according to yesterdays
day statement of the Berlin war ONCE.
Enemy efforts north of the Somme re-
Gently have been solely in an endeavor
to capture artillery positions, but the
Germans have not gained their obJec-
tives. Aerial fighting continues heavy.
French and British aviatOrs have
brought down thirty-one enemy ma
chimes, while Berlin reports the destruc-
ton of eighteen entente airplanes.
From Arras to the Somme the British
line still stands as il did ten days ago
The latest enemy attempt to attack was
made in the region of Buchquoy, TWEEN
tv miles north of. the Somme. but both
efforts were broken up by the British
artillery fire. Immediately south of the
Somme there has been only local fight
ing with no change in the position OF
the battle front
General Petafn's men still maintain
their splendid defense east of the
Amiens-Paris railway. The Germans
have tried to advance north of the
Amiens-Roye road in the region Of Han
gard but the French artillery fire was
sufficient to break up the attack.
Berlin claims further advances in the
region north of Coucy and around the
lower forest of Comcy No mention OF
fighting here is made in Paris South
of Chauny the ground is low and
marshy, especially along the Disc river
and the Disc canal. Folembray, sixty
five miles northeast of Paris, and Pier
remande, reported captured by Berlin.
are on the lowland between the forest
of Coucy and the heights north of the
Aisne.
Whether the German attacks on the
front between the Disc and Coucy are
designed as feint to draw French at
tention from a more vital point, or are
the beginning of strong effort to force
the French back to the Aisne remains
for development to show. Up to the
present, the Germans have only gained
the marshy ground along the Disc and
the low-lying ground between Chauny
and Coucy, as well as the lower forest
of Coucy, which was virtually denuded
of trees in the German retreat of March.
1917. Facing them are the heights on
the line running south of Noyon,
through Coucy to Anizy and thence
across the Ailette to the famous Chem
in des Danes sector.