The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-03-22
F'EASHING GUNS: ri. !:
PALE ROSY HUE
OF COMING DAY
BOmbardment Started at Dawn
With Rain of Shells on the
British
MAY BE GREATEST BATTLE
War and Future History Poss,'
IDLY Hangs Upon Decision I
of Present Onslaught -!
MAY BE GREATEST BATTLE
(eY ASSOCIATED PRESS)

VI Seruun, the thunder OF tHelr Suu
deepened into tempest OF fire alon
the British front in northern France
and they began what may be tn
greatest battle of the war, a struggle
which may lead 70 results which viii
shape the destiuies of millions of PEG
pie over coming centuries.
The attack was made on scale
hitherto unknown during this war o
major offensives. 1t was over from
Of fifty miles. Official reports are yer.
brief, but correspondents at the scene
tell of the terrific storm of artillery
fire that burst over the lines held BY
Field Marshal Haig's men.
Hun Infantry Moves
The bombardment began at five
o'clock Thursday morning, just be
fore the early spring dawn was break
ing over eastern France. Shells OF
large and small calibres were rained
upon the lines held by the British for
about five hours. Then German infan
try stormed out to make the first
great assault. The Germans, favored
by the wind, moved forward under
cover of pail of smoke which hid
the assaulting columns from the eyes
OF the British holding the front lines
Describing the battle, Andrew Bon
ar Law informed the house Of com
mons that lightly held portions OF
the British line had been withdrawn
but said that there was no need fol
alarm on the part Of the country. The
Associated Press correspondent at the
British front reported that an attack
there had been expected and thai
great preparations had been made tc
NEST 1t. The Berlin official reports
trated into some British positions.
Claim French Retreat
Nor were the German efforts con
centrated 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 pen
etrated a considerable distance. Neal
Rheims. too, the French were subject
ed to an assault, but here the artil
lery bore the burden Of the fighting
The attacks at Verdun and Rheims
however, may be considered for the
time being as mere diversions to thu
principal attack, which has been loos
ed against the British. They woulG
serve to keep the French forces a,
Verdun from being transferred to the
British sector, ifNthat part of the bat
tie line should show any signs of bend
ing back.
Americans Menaced
Nothing has been reported as to
attacks on the lines held by the Am
orleans. 1t had been expected that the
Germans would make an assault or
the American held trenches In the
Lorraine and Toul sectors, acting or
the thory that troops which have not
had experience in engagements of the
first degree might be found to yield
easier than veterans. That such an at
tack may yet be launched and with
only slight artillery preparations, is
within the possibilities.
The activity in the American sec
tors during the past three weeks
would indicate that the Germans have
been concerned with the disposition
of General Pershing's legions, their
probable strength and the locations OF
the batteries supporting the infantry
holding the lines.
( AuStrians Engaged.
The Germans have called upon the
Austrian army for assistance in their
effort to carry the battle to the en-
tente allies for the official reports
from Berlin say that Austro-Hungar.
ian artillery is engaged along the
western front. 1t is probable that
the great Austrian howitzers, or Sko
das, have been used against the
stronger sectors of the British lines
The French official reports state
that the Germans have been sangin.
arily repulsed in a number Of engage
ments, notably on the Verdun and the
Lorraine fronts.
Huns Take Town
The city of Kherson, 80 miles north
east Of Odessa. his been captured by
the Teutonic forces. This is an i'm.
portant commercial town and possess
es a fine harbor
Two German destrOyers and two
torpedo boats are believed to have
been destroyed in naval battle of
Dunkirk The Germans came out Of
one of their bases in Belgium and
an attack on the city Of
Dunkirk. French and British torpedo
boats trapped the enemy warships and
visited sound punishment upon them
One British boat was damaged in the
fight. Ostend was 'bombarded by Brit
Lsh monitors on Thursday and British
seaplanes dropped shells on Helgo-
land.
American forces have been engaged
ID q raid east of Luneville and at one
point fought hand to hand with the
enemy A brief artillery fire preceded
The raid which was made in cOnjunc-
lion with the French. ..
Hun Peace Dove Seheeehing
Reports from Amsterdam are to the
effect that semi-Oficial negotiations
Tor peace are on foot between Ger
many and the entente allies, and that
Germany evinced Strong inclination
Or peace This report does not coin.
,ile with the reported telegram from
Emperor William to the Schleswig-
[10astetn provincial council in which
10 emperor said. "the prize of victory
must not and will not fail us--no soft
lpeace, but one which corresponds
nth Gormany's interests"
n Reports from uBenos Aires are to
~ eject that the Amas0, . 10000 ton
lner of the Royal Mail Steam Pac-