Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-06
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Another determined German blow n
the great battle for Amiens is being struck
today against the British IN the Son0ue
valley, almost directly east ~ the rlty,
from which the Germans ~ ihig point ars
about ten miles distant
The attack on the center II the lna
comes after the check NJ the German iofs
Wing Thursday night in its powerful
thrust a. the French line between Mont
didier and the Avre and the failure ~
the German right yesterday and asr
night N make more than > feeble I'M
preston upon the British positions north
a the Sornrne
The fighting in the southerlv sres hss
resolved itself INTO . violent artiiler,-
battle, following which the probability
are that the Germans viii make another
effort u advance from the pceitions "
which they have been pinned Dy the
French. 10 infantry attack occurred rs
this sector. last night except on the British
front Just north of the Luce. ~ which
river the French and British lines rom
meet. The British took the initiative here
and improved their position near Han
gard by a counter attack.
IN the north the determined attempt
Of the Germans yesterday 70 enlarge the
upuerslde Of their salient succeeded only
u a slight degree along the Ancre near
Dernancourt and struck a rock-rIDbeG
British defence at Albert. Il was con
tinued late INTO evening, but despite thc
constant attacks By columns n consider
able strength the enemy was unable n
make any more important progress than
he scored IN his daytime effort.
The early advices on today fighting
made IL seem Likely that the operation
{ vxrg,fvi1 10 az, irnvsnrraur rya r1-yarssfnr
from Vare wood, ClOse 10 the Sornme, the
Germans pushed ia dense waves toward
Corbie, ly1ng IN the narrow strip between
che Ancre and the Somme, near the june
ton Of these rivers. The advance ap-
peared 10 nave a. its objective the gaining
Of the Albert-Arniens road winch rlnS
IN this sector just 70 the northwest ot
CorDle.
"soCHE WAVE Is BROKEN
Gen. Foch. the conuancer-ln-cnle
and under whose orders more than l0O.-
600 American troops are really 70 ald the
French and British, declares that the Boon
tidal wave Is broken. "Al Is gong well,
he adds and expresses confidence IN tine
future. As proof Of dis statement Is
the fact that in the past two days the
enemy has made only shght gains On q
IS mile front, and these nave been
e4lal4Ac0 N part Dg LtH4iND-1AApASt- ~
vanceS at some points.
French resistance broke the German
storm THURSDAY south OF the Somme, and
north of the ryer the British on FRIDAY
showed the same stern mettle before
furious assaults. The sudden switch IN
the attack 70 front Of twenty mics
north OF the Somme may have been
made to catch Field Marshal Hang Nap
ping, but, if so, the attempt was futile.
As in the attack against the tran0o-BrltI-
iSh front, the Germans sustained heavy
casualties in their frultless efforts against
the British.
HUNS BEATEN BACK 81 BRITISH.
Deranncort and Albert, along the
Aucre, were the positions attacked most
heavily by the enemy, While a strong as
sault was made near MOyennevIle, 20
miles north Of the Somme. For many
hours the enemy surged against the
British line, but succeeded only IN gaming
a footing in the foremost trenches 40
Deruancourt Southwest nj Albert, d
British counter attack drove the enemy
from the front line he had entered there.
AZ Moyenneville the enemy vas
thrown back with loss. Between this
point and Albert, in the region Of Mesnl,
the Germans were unable to dlsiOdge
the British from their defences. Southeast
OF Gommecourt, In the region Of Serre
north OF Mesnll, the British launched
an attack and captured 10 prisoners.
I'm vigorous counter attacks the French
have driven the Germans from some posi-
tions north Of Montdidler At Maliy-
RainCval. where ne made gains Thursday
the enemy WAS driven back. Further
south. at Cantigny, the French attackers
gained and held the northern and western
outs kirts of the town. On the Lassigny-
Novon sector the French also made
slight advance north Of Mount Remand
There has been lively artillery activity
here As well as around Ner,iun