The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-03-22
Germans Begin Offensive on Fif-
ty-Mile Front After Heavy
B0mbardment.
HEAVY LOSSES FOR ENEMY
Teutons Advance in and Near Cambrai
Sector-Haig's Forces Driven Back
at Some Points-Rumors Say
Foe Is Using
Tanks.

London, March 22.-Field Marshal
Haig's report from British headquar
ters in France describes the German
offensive as comprising an intense
bombardment by the artillery and
powerful infantry attack on front
of about fifty miles. Some of the Brit
ish positions were penetrated, but the
German losses are declared to have
been exceptionally heavy. On no part
of the long front of the attack did the
Germans attain their objective.
Attack On 5o-MiIe Front
The text of the statement reads:
AT about o'clock in the morning,
high explosive and gas shells on our
forward positions and back areas,
powerful infantry attack was launched
by the enemy on a front of over fifty
miles, extending from the River Disc
In the neighborhood of La Fere to the
Sensee river, about Croisilles.
"A hostile artillery demonstration
has taken place on a wide front north
of La Bassee canal and in the Ypres
sector.
1.-THE attack, which for some time
past was known to be in the course of
preparation, has been pressed with
great vigor and determination through
out the day. In the course of the fight
ing the enemy broke through our out
post positions anu succeeded in pene-
trating into our battle positions in
certain parts of the front.
Heavy Losses for Enemy.
"The attacks were delivered in large
masses and have been extremely cost
ly to the hostile troops engaged, whose
losses have been exceptionally heavy.
Severe fighting continues along the
whole front. Large numbers of hostile
reinforcing troops have been observed
during the day moving forward behind
the enemy's lines.
Several enemy divisions which had
been especially trained for this great
attack have already been identified, in
Guiding units of the guards.
Captured maps depicting the en-
emy's intentions show that on no part
of the long front of the attack has he
attained his objective'
Germans Use Tanks.
London, March 22.- By employing
masses of troops, supported by great
weight of artillery, the Germans ap
pear to have penetrated the British
front line at certain points between
the Scarpe and Vendguil, says Reuters
correspondent at British headquarters
Our counter-meaSures have not yet
developed" the correspondent adds
Therefore, it is difficult to define the
position. Apparently the enemy's pur
pose has been to launch converging at
tacks upon the two f1anks of the Flies
quieres salient, in the hope of cutting
it off
There are unconfirmed rumors that
the enemy has employed tanks"
Launch Heavy Attack.
British Army Headquarters in
France. March 22.-The Germans
launched a heavy attack against the
British lines in the afternoon over a
wide front in and near the Cambria
sector and the assault bears all the
earmarks of being the beginning OF
the enemy's much-heralded grand of
fensive.
Hard fighting is proceeding from 9
point north of Lagnicourt southwark
to Gauche wood, just below Gouzea
court.
Terrific Bombardment.
The attSck was preceded by heavy
bombardment from guns of all cali
bers and the duel between the oppoS
ing heavy batteries has been rocking
the countryside for hours.
The Germans have employed gas
shells freely and a constant stream OF
high velocity shells has been breaking
with frightfuI concussion far back OF
the British lines.
Attack Begins at 5 A. M.
The bombardment began in earnest
at five O'Clock Thursday morning anC
about five hours later the enemy forces
hurled themselves on the British front
line trenches north of Lagnicourt anC
LOuyeral, the latter place lying due
west of Boursies.
In Champagne, Too.
Near Reims, TOO, the French were
subjected TO an assault, but the artil
lery bore the burden of the fighting.
The attacks at Verdun and Reims
however may be considered for th,
time being as mere diversions to th,
principal attack, which has been looset
against the British.
They would serve to keep Frenci