The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-03-21
GREATEST BATTLE
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Describing the bajtle Andrew 6onar
Law Informed the house Of commons
that lightly held portions OF the Brit
i5h line had been withdrawn. but SAID
that there was no need for alarm on
the part Of the country. The Assoc"
atcd Press correspondent at the Brit
Ish front reports that an attack there
had been expected and that great prep
arations had been made 10 meet It.
I he Berlin official report says that the
Germans have penetrated into some
British positions.
Nor were the German efforts con-.
centrateci on the front held by the
British. Early Thursday morning the
Germans assaulted the French lines
near the village Of Ornes, to the north
east Of Verdun, and claim to have
penetrated to considerable distance.
Near Rheims. too. the French were
subjected 70 an assault. but here the
artillery bore the burden Of the fight
ing.
The attacks at Verdun and Rheims,
however. may be considered for the
time being as mere diversions to the
principal attack which has been loosed
against the British. They would serve
to keep French forces at Verdun and
Rheims from being transferred to the
British sector if that part OF the battle
line should show any signs OF bending
back.
Nothing has been reported as to at
lacks on the lines held by the Ameri-
cans. X had been expected that the
Germans would make an assault on
the American held trenches in the
Lorraine and foul sectors. acting on
the theory that troops which have not
had experience in engagements Of the
first degree might be found to yield
easier than veterans. Such an attack
yet may be launched, and with only
SLIGHT artillery preparation is within
the possibilities.
The activity in the American sec
tors during the past three weeks
would indicate that he Germans have
been concerned with the disposition Of
General perShin9's Iegions, their prob.
able strength and the locations OF the
batteries supporting the infantry hold
ing the lines.
The Germans have called upon the
Austrian army for assistance in their
effort to carry the battle to the en-
lentc allies. The official reports from
6erlin say that Austro-Hungarian ar
ti!!ery is engaged along the western
front Il is probable that the great
Austrian howitzers. or skodas. have
been used AGAINST the stronger sectors
OF the British lines.
The French official report states
that the Germans have been sanguina-
rlly rcpulsed in a number Of engage
ments, notably on the Verdun and lor-
rainc fronts.
The city Of Kherson. 90 miles north
east of Odessa, has been captured By
the Teutoric forces. This is an i'm
portant commercial town and pos
sesscs d fine harbor.
TWO German destroyers and two
torpedo boats are believed to have
been destroyed IN naval battle OIL
Dunkirk. The Germans came out OF
one of their bases in Belgium and
commenced an attack on the city OF
Dunkirk. French and British torpedo
boats trapped the enemy warsh'ps and
visited sound punishment upon thcm.
One British beat was damaged IN he
faint. Ostend was bombed by Brit
ish monitors on Thursday, and British
sesolancs dropped shells on Helgo~
land.
The British embassy at Washing
ton has annoUaccd that since the be-
uinnina Of the var 1f,o2!.572 tons OF
British shipping have been destroyed.
Durin1 the year Of 1917. 6.723,623 tons,
or over half the total loss during the
conflict were lost. !
American forces have engaged IN a
raid east Of LuncvI!e, and ii one po'Ht
FOUGHT hand TO hand with the enemy.
q brief artillery fire. preceded the RAID.
which was made in conjunction with
the French.
Rc2orts from Amste rdaT arc 70 the
effect that scIni.officiai negotiations
for peace are on foot between Gernna-
ny and Ghe Entente allies, and that
Germany has cvinced strong IHcll-
nation for peace" This report DOES
rct coincide with the reported tclc
drom from Emperor William - TIC
Observation-Disclosures provinc'al: ooun-
Gil. in which tho emperor said The
prrzc OF vi.sofy must nc; ard vii! not
fail us--ro soft peace. but on" wh'ch
corresponds with Ccrm2ny's inter
ests"
Reports from 3r"nos Aires arc to
the cffcc. that the Amazon. 4 ten-thou'
san.ton Timer Of the Soyai Mali Steam
Packet Company. has Seen sunk by 4
submarine. It IS SAID that all on hoard
WE'RE c.yed