New-York tribune., 1918-03-04
Enemy Forces the Fighting
on Whole Central Sector
in West
French and u. S.
Troops Holding Well
Heavy Bombardment and
Sudden Raids Reported
in Champagne

LONDON, March 3.--The whole CEN
trail sector of the West front, from the
elbow northeast of scissors clear
through the Champagne, stretch of
about sixty miles, is ahame with actv-
ity, in which the Germans are forcing
the fighting, but making little progress.
The guns of the Grown Prince are
sending ever great volume Of shell!
while his trained shock troops have
undertaken raids in force at many
points, insluding parts of the line
either held or supported by Amer
lean contingents. Thus far the official
reports show that the defenders have
held their own.
The Germans have been most ener-
getic directly northeast and northwest
of Rheims and to the eastward along
the five Champagne mountains held by
the French. The thrusting operations
IN these regions recall the predictions
OF many military critics that the Ger
mans would attempt to drive through
tins comparatively dry stretch Of
and thus restore the "war of move
ment' where it would do the most in
jury. The possibility that the German
activity may presage an advance on a
MAJOR scale is indicated in the closing
OF the Swiss frontier Saturday night
step usually taken to conceal largs
military movements.
Little Air Activity
However, the feverish German re-
actions in the trenches have not yet
developed a corresponding activity in
the air. This may either mean that the
Grown Prince is trying to force French
concentrations in a sector whore Hin
denburg does not mean to attack, or
that the Allies have definitely protected
the areas Of the sky above their front
Two German battalicns directed an
attack on the French positions at La
Pompelle, but the French succeeded in
reestablishlng their positions at this
point. A strong effort was made by
the Germans to deboucn from the Ncuf-
chatel salient, northwest of Rheims.
but 1t failed. And a German advance
on a half mile front in the Champagne
was frustrated by vigorous counter
attack by the French.
Another thrust by the enemy in the
Champagne was at Carnllet, where an
attack on a front of more than $50
yards found the French trench evacu
ated. But the French energetically re-
turned to the trenches and, driving the
enemy out, regained their positions.
Attack American Line
1t is likely that American troops
were under fire in the Champagne. For
the Paris report says that there was a
heavy German bombardmcnt all the
night southwest Of the Butte du Mes
nil, near Tahure (whcre the American
artillery is located). The accuracy of
the French fire inflicted serious losses
on the Germans, a number of whom
were captured.
The left bank Of the Meuse was the
scene of local fighting. French patrols
captured number of prisoners in the
region of Naux-les-P P PalamaiX, on the
right bank of the Mouse.
In Lorraine and south Of Fave and
in the Vosges Mountains, two German
raids were effectively checked.
The British War Office announces
that several German raids were made
on the Franco-Belgian front without
success. On their part, the British
raidcd the encmy's trenches southeast
Of Armentieres with excellent results.
A British patrol near Pontru, in the
St. Quentin region, cncountering a
party of German raiders, routed them
after nnicting considerable loss and
capturing number Of prisoners. WesE
of Lens the Germans concentrated a
strong fire on the British lines, but did
not leave the trenches.
An official statement from Berlin to-
night saws that Brandcnburg troops in
an attack near Neuvo Chapelle brought
back sixty-six Portuguese prisoners, in
Guiding three officers.
The Berlin statement also reports
that French companies, in an attack on
the German positions near Corbcny.
during the night, were repelled by a
counter thrust.