Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-04
BOTH ARMIES READY:
GEN. FOCH CENTRE
OF WAR INTEREST
Germans Must Face Greater Losses
When the Battle is Renewed,
is Allies, View.
BLAME HALT ON WEATHER

BY Associated Press to Every Evening
Gcrmanys peace drive" through Pr
cardy enters upon its third week with
both forces preparing for the resumption
OF heavy fighting The weather has
Interfered somewhat, but the Germans
have not renewed their heavy fighting
attacks and the fighting front has re-
manned virtually unchanged since Mon
day.
North OF the Somme the British have
improved their positions IN small attacks
while on the important sector south of the
river there has been no infantry action.
In the region north of Montdidier, which
has been the scene of much heavy fight
ing, the artillery boInbardment has been
violent but the enemy has made no at
tempt TO attack
INTEREST CENTRES OK GEN. FocH
While there is little doubt that the
Germans must attack again and will have
TO sustain still greater losses in further
efforts against the Allied line, much IN
terest centres in the plans Of General
Eoch. The attacks by the British between
Albert and Arras and by the French be-
tween Montdidier and koyon apparently
were for the purpose of improving local
positions. Silence is being maintained
by both sides as to the next act in the
titanic military contest.
German newspapers declare the Ger
man drive was halted by bad weather,
not by the Eranco-British defence Ad-
mission rs made that the Germans are
having great difficulty in moving up guns
and supplies over the muddy area Of
the SomTne and that transportation is in
poor shape because Of the necessity Of
constructing new roads.
Amiens, the primary object Of Ger
man efforts during the last two weeks, If
free from danger at this moment. A
military proclamation posted there in
forms the population that threatening
peril has been removed and cxhorts them
To maintain confidence.
AMERICAN TROOPS UNDER FIRE.
American troops in the region Of Toul
and an unnamed place have been sub
jccted to a heavy bombardment from
enemy guns Gas shells we're used mainly
In the FIRE against the Americans in the
unnamed place High explosive shells and
gas projectors were used in the artillery
attack northwest of Toul but no great
damage was done.
Reconnaissance and patrol activities
are increasing on the Italian front, espe-
cially from west Of Lake Garda to the
} iikEA lit AkEaAlTRaG law
several enemy outpcsts and made a
number of prisoners
A German force has been landed at
Hango, on the southern coast Of Finland,
TO aid IN the campaign against the Pin
nish rebels The Finnish government
forces are bombarding Tammerfors,
north OF Helsingfors. while new Russian
relnforcementS are reported 10 have ar
rived to help the rebels who control
most of southern FINLAND
OFFENSIVE on SEA wEAKENs.
Germanys offensive on the seas, like
her land drive. fell down last week
Only sixteen British, French and Italian
steamships were sunk IN the past week,
while in the previous seven day period.
81 were lost through the activities OF
German submarines. The British losses
last week were Is ships, including six Of
more than 1000 tons which compares
most favorablv With the loss Of twenty
eight, including 10 OF the larger tonnage
the previous week Fifteen British mer-
chantmen escaped from submarine at
tacks.