Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-04-05

at
least and apparently there is little activity on the line
north from Montdidier and along the British front.
Considerable increase in the violence artillery fire
at some points is announced which expected
as the opposing armies increasingly able to their arg
er guns into position.
DRIVE sLACKENs EVERYWHERE
Inc German drive is ackenng everywhere before the
perate resistance of the Allied armies but there indications
troops in the region of Albert Severe fighting in
toward Villers and Brettonneux
The latest of the Germans is believed presage an
attempt work down toward Amens by coming the VAL
ley of the Ancre and by attacking southwest
The next phase of the battle which expected to be Ger
man attack in force in this direction will find large numbers Of
American troops in action both acting separate arv I'M
der Gen. Pershing and units Francoish forces
There have been intense German attacks on twenty-five
mile 'front.' from just south of the Somme to the tip the great
lest salient at Monddier Villages and changed hands
many times but the Allies always maintained the supremacy
British cavalry took part in the fighting by brilliant
charg such expected could again under
modern battle conditions, drove the enemy back
The net changes in the lin however were the SLIGHTEST
since the offensive began Apparently the are han
dapped by their great losses and by their inability bring I'D
their heavy artillery because of the constantly increasing rain
which has turned the ground into quagmire
The enemy, too is finding great difficulty in transport
work. owing to the ceaseess activity the British FLYERS and
also to his shortage of animals
French and British troops advanced last night between the
Somme and Demuin is officially by the Paris war
office Over most of the front between the and the Disc
the night relatively calm Heavy artillery fighting occur
red at some points.
The office statement says:
1.-THE night relatively calm the front between the Disc
and the Somme The artillery fighting became rather heavy
along parts of the battlefield.
"Franco-British troops progress during the
night between the Somme and Demuin.
n the region of the trench and at Ban de SAINT
the French made two successful raids and took prisoners At
Chambrettes German attack small French posts was re-
pulsed"
Near Hebuterne yesterday the British successful
attack capturing machine guns and prisoners and
counter attack was epused the London office
DEAD COVER BATTLEFIELD
The official statement follows:
In the of the fighting yesterday between the
and the Luce captured so prisoners machine
guns. large number Of German dead found the
this locality by and two counter attacks attempted
by the enemy later in the day broken up with heavy
by artillery German battery in action in this
successfully engaged at short range and senced by
machine guns.
"a successful local enterprise carried by in the
neghborhood of Hebuterne resulted in the capture 70 p
and three machine guns Many Germans killed in
this operation also and hostile counter attack during the
ternoon completely repused.
On the rest Of the front successful raids in which OBJ
tanned prisoners and killed number of the enemy
carried out in the neghborhood of Acheve and Hoeboke
AVALANCHE OF STEEL
along Scarpe March had
its objective the city of and the formidable Vmy ridge
Careful plans laid to out this ambition and the at
tack supported by heavy assault south and southwest of
Arras units of at least II German divisions being employed
may be SEEM therefore, that the German plans far
reaching but the main result they achieved to swell the
already great total of their casualties.
At about o'clock the morning of the 2th German
ery of all cabres opened terrific bombardment against
the British positions 1t obvious that the enemy intended
attack 645 o'clock the British gunners Embossed
avalanche of steel against every known place assembly that
the Germans might be using.
/ HAD SIX DAYS RATTONS
Shortly after o'clock the enemy advanced He for
ward slowly and deliberately in full marching order Each in
fanyman carried raons for six days. two blankets and