The Benson signal., 1918-04-13
SAMMIES REPEL
ATTACK TOUL
ENGLISH ADVANCE NEAR SOMME
AS SIEGE GUNS ROAR AT
OISE RIVER.
TO new DRIVE
ARTILLERY BATTLE IN FRENCH
SECTOR INDICATES IMPENDING
BLOWS AT LENS AND ARRAS.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
With the American Army in France,
April "a large German patrol at
tempted a surprise attack on the
American outposts in the sector
northwest of Toul early Monday morn
ing, but was dispersed without being
able to reach any of the American po-
sitions. A corporal in listening post,
seeing the Germans approaching,
waited until they we're but few yards
away and then challenged. The en-
emy answered with rifle fire; where
upon the American outposts opened
with heavy machine gun and auto
matte fire, scattering the Germans
and driving them back to their own
lines.
Facing American, French and Brit
ish troops strongly entrenched and
we'll equipped for battle, the German
army has for the moment given up it's
direct drive against Amiens. After
utter repulse in his efforts to smash
straight through to his objective, the
enemy now is attempting a new ma
neuver which is intended to broaden
the field of action and reduce the men
ace of a counter offensive that would
nullify all the gains made by the Teu-
tons since March Fl.
Reports from the battle line in
Picardy disclose the first stages OF
this new German offensive, aimed at
either side of the salient in the allied
lines From La Basse canal in the
north, to the sectors east of Laon, the
great artillery forces of the enemy are
laundering, with the bombardment
deepening at places to the intensity OF
drum fire.
The length of this front is approx
imately 120 miles. North of Lens,
east of Arras, along the new front
running through Bucquoy to Albert,
south of Montdidier and thence east
ward past Lassigny and Novon to a
point far beyond Chauny, the Ger
mans are hammering the allied lines
in an attempt to break the defenses
and prepare them for the infantry as
sault which may be expected at any
moment.
On the western "elbow" of the sal
lent in the allied lines the Germans
are forced to fight uphill. Their ad'
vance across the lower ground along
the Somme Ancre, Avre and Luce riv-
ers has carried them up to parapet
of hills which sentinel the road to
Amiens. Attacks along this natural
bulwark have netted the enemy only
insignificant gains at horrible cost.
At points the German efforts have
gained, but these gains have resulted
only in the formation of sharp salients
which are swept by rifle and machine
gun fire and tempests of shell when
ever enemy troops are seen forming
for an attack.
That an attack of large dimensions
is planned for the front of Arras north
ward to Lens is considered probable
by military experts. AS long as this
front is in it's present position, the
Germans cannot exert their full
strength on the line before Amiens.
The cannonade in this region may be
the prelude of massed attack such
as bent the British line during the lat
ter days of March.
Brothers Guilty Staying Homesteader.
Silver City, N. M.-Samuel L. and
Joseph S. Hunt, cattlemen of Grant
county, were found guilty of second
degree murder by jury here for the
killing of Chester Bartell, a home
homesteader, on Sept. 13, 1917. The
jury was out thirty-six hours. The two
men are brothers and were charged
with first degree murder. Another
brother, John P. Hunt, accused on a
similar charge, previously had been
freed on an instructed verdict of ac
quittal on motion of the district attor-
ney.
Villa Bandits Defeat Carranzistas.
Maria, Tex.-A Mexican federal
command under Colonel Calero reach
ed Mulato, opposite Redford, Tex, and
reported that battle had been fought
near San Antonio, fifty miles south
east of Ojinaga, between his forces
and those of Jose Chavez, a Villa gen.
oro1 Tho fp6pra1c WnrQ fOrCp6 tO ro-