Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-31
ENEMY ADVANCES
BETWEEN RIVERS
SOMME AND AYRE
Aiette Cleared of Allied
Forces, According to Ger
man War Office.
SITUATION UNCHANGED
ON NORTHERN SECTOR
Battle Now Raging Between
Moreuil and Lassigny May
Prove Decisive.
AMERICANS EAGER FOR FRAY
russians Capture Several Villages
on fivc-Aiilc Front i'm Neighbor-
hood Of Niontdidicr.
SITUATION UNCHANGED
ON NORTHERN SECTOR
AMERICANS EAGER FOR FRAY
I'russians Capture Several Villages
on fivc-Miic Front in Neighbor-
hood OF Montdidicr.

The battle on the Morcuil-Lassirnv
front continued tho whole day and
extended along sixty kilomcters saws
the War Office announcement al par.
last night.
me herman assaults. multiplied in
force, were inccssant. but rrcnch
countcrattacks everywhere stonnod
the onslaughts.
Between the Sommc and tho Avro
the Germans have driven from parts
OF their foremost positions British and
trench troops freshly brourrit up, and
have captured Beaucourt and Mezieres.
tho War Office announces at Berlin.
French attacks against Montdidier arc
said to have failed
Aicttc. the statement SAYS has been
cleared OF enemy forces
The situation north Of the Somme
is unchanged, it is said.
The Laon cathedral, which has been
considerably damaged by the continu-
Gus bombardu,cnt, is threatened with
destruction from the fire of the French
guns.
AMERICANS BRING Ut
SUPPLIES TO FRENCH
Many American transport section
units are at work bringing up sun
plies to the French, who are engaged
in the great battle in the southern
section. around Morcuil and Lassicny.
French troops now are meeting tho
shocle OF a German attack on a TWENTY IS
hNc-miic front in what may deye!op
INTO the most important hattie fought
since the start of the offensive ten days
ago. Foilcd ut Arras in the attempt
to take that place from the British and
disorganizc the northern British line,
hndinE themselves only able to advance
step by step at great cost in their
thrust along the Somme the Germans
Friday night turned southward and
hurled heavy masses upon the French
in the Montdidicr salient
II is here, from MoreuiI. ten miles
northwest OF Montddicr. in a curvinG
line around the latter place and east.
ward beyond Lassigny. nearly hfteen4
miles away, that the battle was rag
ing at last accounts. Violent assaults
were delivered upon the French lines,
which developed 4 powerful resistance,
and were further strengthened by the q
arrival OF fresh reserves
The initial free OF the IMPACT hcw-
ever, was sufficient TO drive the French
back short distances at and near tho
point OF the salient. Pushing vest
ward from the branch of the Avre
which runs In Il northwesterly dircc-
tion from Montdidcr, the enemy forced
his way into several villages with
in stretch OF about five miles alcng
the front. The advance. as shown by
the locations OF the villages announced
as captured. reached Il maximum OF
about three miles i'll this sector. South
OF Montdidicr the wedge also was fur +
ther driven in about two miles. Fight
ing at this point. around Ayencourt,
was stil in progress late on Saturday
in a heavy rainfall. The German aim
here is apparently TO drive westward
from Mcntdidicr in y further attempt
in cutting IN on Amiens from the south.
The German line here. however. Is
already considerably extended. tho
northern wing of the advance hav-
ing by no means kept pace with thu
southern.
1t is possible that the impctuosity of
the German Crown Prince. who COM
mands this group. may be leading him
too far
MAY BE
TRYING TO s1..vE OFF blow
II the push is intended TO open q
southward path for the Germans, it
seems TO he eXerted too far to the west
on the southerly line to win a way
readily TO the Disc. where that river
curves southwest from Noyon and flows
on toward Paris. y possibility Is that
the Germans arc attempting to stave
off an allied counterblCw attacking
themselves rather than stand still and
be attacked on this. their most ex-
posed flank front
On the remainder OF the front tho
Is virtually without change,
so far as the official reports reveal.
rI.ATED At
PROSPECT OF FIGHTING
The American troops in France have
greeted with exultation the news that s.
they arc to be given a part In the fight
ing OF the great battle. Dispatches
from the front report them enthusiast
tic over the prospect. IN
Secretary Of War Baker. ut An,er;-
can headquarters. expressed his graft
iicatlon at General Pershing's prompt
action In placing the American forces
at the allies disposal. I;
Further notable advances have been q