VOL. XVI. NO. 274
nnrirninniunl
II Hill II Mil
IlllllhWII III 1 Bk
b Eiii nil in u
IIIIIL.IIIUIIIUU
liV T fl If F
inn i iniiL
n AAARI
II II
m MM
;Pershing Believed to Have Hun
dred Thousand Men in Readi-
f ness to Unite With Aliy Re
serve Force When Time Comes
; Eight Hundred Thousand Fresh
; Troops Will Be Hurled Against
Tired Huns When Germans
Havd Extended Themselves.
ASIIINGTON. March 28. (I.
S.) The allied offensive
; is believed to be under way and
most important news is expected
from the battlefront in Picardy
within 'thenext 24 hours, war de
,partment officials declared today.
Th .counter , onmvsijit i
the sharpest blow that the en
tente has attempted. It is under
' stood that . not less than 100,000
American troops will participate
in this movement, which will
probably .take the form of a
rolllngap movement.
According to the latest Information
'reaching Washington, the allies have
'placed1 (00,000 fresh troops along the
Picardy afront. It la these men who
will be sent against the Germans in a
sweeping movement which Is expected
' to turn the tide of battle In favor of
Amerlcan-Anglo-French forces.
The general staff is watching the im-
nnrifnv tkBttljl wltVl HflTi,t ( n taraat t
The very fact that, for the first time in
the war, officers were willing to admit
that the-American army was to be rep-
resented In a battle movement by a
large force was considered very slgnifi-
cant. The figures mentioned by the
officers who would discuss the outlook
100,000 were a real surprise, as it had
, not been believed that General Per-
(Coneluded on Pats Two, Column Una)
; Alien's Gash -Goes
! T4-rt T "Ui--4-rr "Dv, J ! Washington. 638; Idaho, 246; Montana,
:h 111 tO JjlUeriV JDOIICLS 1 619 : Wyoming. 134; Oregon, 367; Call
V . I fornia, 1752 ; Utah. 247 ; Nevada. 70.
"How "would you like to buy some
19 .nd-r: "k?d "Depu United
rm siarauai j icnenor oi ueorge
Zetger. alien German arrested at I. W.
. W. headquarters Wednesday night on a
cfiarge violating me president s pro
clamation, Before Zelger had a chance to answer
' mil Hat In tha nAvatlv. .MwM.tlva
Deputy Tichenor began a "four minute"
talk that;-resulted in Zeiger's turning
over S500 of 800 that had been found
'In his pockets when he was arrested.
1; The bonds were purchased and a re
ceipt turned over jte the marshal in
trust for Zelger. His case is being in
vestigated by Assistant United States
. Attorney Veatch and meanwhile he Is
.being held In the Multnomah county Jail.
iDates for Sale of
Wheat Announced
. Washington. March 28. (U. P.) Fol
" lowing charges that German farmers
., Id this country, are holding wheat, the
. food ' administration today set May 1
' and 15 as the dates upon which residue
'wheat should be marketed. Southern
' and middle states farmers are urged
to sell all wheat aside from seed re
' Quirements by May 1 and northern
states fanners by May 15.
WORKERS!!
READ THE
Hhelp
wanted ads
.TONIGHT
t - -
Opportunity . -'
for. Advancement
A1RAS; FE1
i
OFFICIAL STATEMENTS
British
LONDON, March 28. (U. P.)
"The enemy has crossed the
Somme from the north near Chlpll
ly," the war office announced this
evening. "We fell back toward Ha
mel. "Opposite Arras at least seven army
divisions attacked the . line which
runs through Arleux. Fampoux,
Meuvllle-Vitasse and Bolsleux. The
fighting was severe, with heavy
enemy losses. Opposite Arras our
forward xone has been penetrated.
"North of the Somme the situa
tion Is substantially the same as last
night
"Between HainvlUIers and Ponet
l'eveque the French counter-attacked
in force and drove the enemy back
on a front of 10 kilometers to the
depth of three kilometers. The
French pressure here continues."
LONDON. March -28. (TJ. P.)
"Repeated enemy attacks in the
Somme valley, also In the neighbor
hood of Beaumont-Hamel, Puisleux
and Moyenville, were repulsed,"
Field Marshal Kaig reported today.
"We captured prisoners and ma
chine guns.
"Fierce fighting Is under way on
both banks of the Somme.
"There was a heavy bombardment
east of Arras this morning. An at
tack is developing.
"Astride the' Somme, Wednesday
evening and Wednesday night, there
was severe fighting; also north of
Albert and Poyelles."
Beaumont-Hamel is six miles
north -of Albert, on the west bank of
the Ancre. Puisleux Is three miles
north of Beaumont-Hamel. Moyen
ville is six miles due .south of Ar
ras and about 20 miles northeast of
Albert.
French
PARIS. March 28. (U. P.) Aban
donment of Montdidler was of
ficially admitted by the French war
office today.
"In ' the region of ' Montdidler
Camp Lewis Will Get 3973 Men
From Eight Westerri States
for Training for War.
( Camp Lewis March 28. (I. N. S.)
I Oregon's quota in the second draft.
mrti4sH will Yuk Imrijhf. WV nn XT mY 9k I
Is to be 67 men. it was announced here J
Wednesday. I
The total number In the second draft ;
' contingent to be brought to Camp Lewis
will be S97J men, with Increments daily
I from March 29 until April 5, when the
movement will be completed.
On the first day the schedule calls
for the arrival of 501 men, with SOS on
March SO. S3S on March 31. 1165 on
April 1. 605 on April 2, 402 on April 3,
658 on April 4, and a final tomall incre-
ment of 21 men from California on
April 6. '
The apportionment by states follows:
i . "tV i
s a finretarv Baker
I w - J
1 C-i J i-
j 661S 001111(1611 b
London, March 28. Newton D. Baker,
the American secretary of war,, who
came to London from Paris, is follow
ing the course of fighting on the West
ern front with the keenest Interest.
Mr. Baker, alone with evtrvona clue.
is confident that tho Germans will be
defeated.
I roll of honor
tVuhinston, March 28. ( L N. 8.) Tb
name of nina killed in action head the eaaualty
lut announced by the war department Wedneiday
afternoon. One man was killed in an .aeddent
and four died o( diaeaae. - Two wen aeTereljr
wounded and 14 attghtly wounded.
Killed in Action
CADET THOMAS C. NACHAH.
PRIVATE JOHN E. ALLEN.
PRIVATE HARRY E. BOER8ELER.
PRIVATE WALTER T. COHEE.
PRIVATE HARRY CRIST.
PRIVATE ARCHIE HENDERSON.
PRIVATE CLARENCE M. JONES.
PRIVATE JESSE L. KOOPMAN'
PRIVATE ALEC. MIXJ.ER.
Died of Aecldent
SERGEANT HUNTER HASSIE.
Died of Disease
COOK PAUL BOUCHET, poisonin.
PRIVATE ROBERT 8. CROSS, (cadet
'TpRIVATE j6HN W. LEMKE, diphtheria.
PRIVATE GEORGE W. OLDFtELD. matttoid
itia Wounded Severely
Prlrate Dewain E. Uontcomery.
PtiTata George E. O. Oetrander.
Wounded Slightly
- Corporal Edward C. TwttchelL
PriTate Pint Claaa Wro. ,C Peek.
I'riTate Marienuf W. Burgmaa.
Prlrate Lee A. Char land.
PrifaU Rudolph J. CoeteBo.
Prlrate Percy T. Encelae. Jr.
Private Jacob Ginsberg.
' Prlrate Edward F. GrabilL-
Prlrate John Sietsing.
Prlrate John D. Perry. "
Prlrate William Bins.
PriTate Tony Testa.
1 Private lon W. ToUin.
PriraU William Tarn det Pities. '
ft OtUws. Ontoria. March 2t. (tr. P.) P. J.
Callabaa of Seattle. Wash., was lulled in action
with the Canadian forces, aecordine- to the -tee-
J i eras office casualty list today. ui , , ...
110 6
PORTLAND, OREGON, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 28, 1918. TWENTY PAGES.
JIB
important German forces were
launched," the communique said.
"After the bitterest fighting we re
tired in order to the west of Slont
didier. Testerday evening the battle con
tinued with Increasing violence,"
said the communique. "The enemy
was checked by our valient troops,
suffering severely near Noyon and
along the left bank of the Oise.
"The Germans concentrated their
efforts against our left, launching
great forces a'galnst Montdidler
where the fighting was of extraor
dinary violence. ' Our regiments,
fighting foot by foot, and InfMcting
heavy losses, were nowhere weak
ened. They retired in order to the
heights directly west of Montdidler,
"On the rest of the front there
was an intermittent bombardment."
Montdidler is an important rail
road and highway center, 10 miles
west and south of Roye, 21 miles
southeast of Amiens and 18 miles
west and north of Noyen. It Is 30
miles due west of Tergnier," which
marks the German line before the
present offensive. " Montdidler has
a population of about 40,000.
Germans
OFRLIN, Via London, March 28.
(U. P.) "Northwest of Ba-
paume we have driven the enemy
toward Bocquoy and Hebuterne,"
the German war office announced
today.
"South of the Somme at many
points we drove the English and
French back into many regions un
tounched by the war since 1914."
"Our losses generally are within
normal limits. At some vital points
they are heavier, the slightly
wounded being estimated at 60 to
70 per cent cf all those engaged.
(Note: It is not clear whether
this means CO to 70 per cent of all
those engaged or that percentage of
the total casualties.)
"The crown prince on Wednesday
pushed as far " as St. Plerrepolnt,
possessing Montdidler," the state
ment continued.
en
VESSELS FASTEST
This District Has Established
I World's Record; It Is Far Ahead
of Atlantic and Gulf.
The Pacific coast, and especially the
Columbia river district, has established
a world s record for turning out shipa. i
It is far ahead of the Atlantic and Gulf i
POant iwotinni. i. v
ttVpnltA t . t, " " ,
turne out In the Portland district for !
the emergency fleet corporation than In !
anv nthr- Atmtri-t j .
The government fully realize th i
v.wu w wuuir y.
wonaeriui achievement. The Pacific
coast, particularly the . Pacific North- ;
west, will forever be fn the forefront of
th F.at' armi.t., ZJZJrl ...,Tl
j proven in this ' great crisis that it is
' wool and a. van) win,
Clothed with lv&luf ,-tt i
regard to more shipbuilding business
and with a wonderful messaare of- the
shipping board's recognition and appre
ciation of what is being done here.
Lloyd J. Wentworth, head of the Oregon
district of the emergency fleet corpora-
tion, returned Wednesday night from
a four week's trip to Washington.
The authority given Mr. -Wentworth
will permit the origination of future
wooden ship contracts at the local head
quarters, with the definite decision that
the policy will be to award more busi
ness to all shipyards ln the Oregon dis
trict now doing satisfactory work for
the government. In regard to yards
! now without business, it Is believed that
decision will be reached soon as to
whether they are to be given government
contracts or be permitted to accept con
tracts for private account. This de
cision has been called for by Manager
Pies of the fleet corporation from Chair
man Hurley of the shipping board, with
whom it rests entirely.
The cry is ever and ever for ships
mil mnm nbina. The nrxrrttv nt .hiru.
is appalling and their need is none the ! ments and it probably will result in de
less acute. But the whole matter of manded "pitiless publicity" to straighten
contracts, and more contracts. Is con
tingent upon the supply of machinery.
(Concluded on Page Nineteen, Column Seren)
Grape Plants for Sale
Used Car Wanted
For Sale, Miscellaneous it
YEAR-OLD Concord grape plants
cheap.
Lasnehes and Boats 44
THREE room houseboat for sale.
Automobile Wasted 78
PRIVATE party will pay. cash for
good used car. Must be ln good
running order and not older than
1915 model.
A woman who reads The JOUR
XL WANT ADS with the same
N
eager' Interest she has in a good
story of fiction, or in a dramatic
review, or a news story of peculiar '
human interest, is not likely to
make many . "blunders" In her
buying! v .
Tou can not devote five minutes
to reading The JOURNAL WANT
ADS without learning soma fact of
actual value ana importance to you.
i est we jnaner i
IF:
ENCH
AtR PROGRAM GERM H
DELAY IS LAID POSITION IS
TO HUN SPIES
Charge Is Made by Senator Over
man in Reply to Attacks on
Delays in Supplying Per
shing's Forces With. Planes.
Exhibits Steel Sawed Through,
Plugged With Lead and Paint
ed Over; Spy Responsible,
Yet Tlot Caught.
By r. C. Martin
Washington. March 28. (U. P.) Ger
man spies, working tn American airplane
factories, have delayed this country's
aircraft program. Senator Overman
charged in the senate today.
Replying to continued recent attacks
on the delay in supplying General Per
shing's forces with flying machines,
Overman declared there are "400.000
German spies In this country," some of
whom were at work In airplane plants.
Overman exhibited a piece of steel
wnicn he said had been sawed through
and plugged with lead by a spy. who
had then painted It so the presence of
ieaa would not be detected.
The presence of this sov in the Cur
tiss plant delayed the construction of
battleplanes two months, said Overman.
The man has not been caught yet!
Beplaee Workers, tt Advice
??fM I wen president of the United
States I would commandeer the Curtiss
plant and turn out, all the men there,
putting loyal Americans1 In their places.
I make no charges against the men
there, but some of them have names
that sound queer to me."
Replying to the criticism which for
days has been voiced in the senate
over failure of the airplane program, to
come up to promises. Overman said, he
favors criticism when it is just but de
precates it when it is unfair.
"In this case, it is unfair," he said.
"The delay in the construction of air
planes is the work of spies. That is
the mysterious blight of which Senator
Jones of Washington spoke the other
day.
"Kvery airplane which was partly or
wholly built had to be " gone over and
i examined for defects such as the one I
have pointed out.
This defect was dls-
covered by a tfrttisn army orncer. an
'inspector, how many more spies there
are In airplane factories, I
know."
do not
Overman gave Senator Chamberlain,
chairman of the committee, the name
of a detective ' who is working on the
I case and suggested to Chamberlain to
ca" mT, " y "verraan s cnarge ox
Bp 5ctiTltie e t .
Following Overman, Senator Reed, in
' tlmes past one of the most outspoken
i critics of the war government, delivered
a warm appeal for harmony in the sen
ate ln 1119 Interest of winning the war.
Beed Pleads for Harmony
"Let mb have done with these little po
litical bickerirfgs," said Reed. "Every
man here would give every drop of his
' blood to bring to us the victory. Then
i let us stop these petty squabbles. I
appeal to the senate. Let the Wisconsin
election go on. As a Democrat. I say
that If either of the. leading candidates
there ; Is elected, a loyal man will : be
sworn In. It is time for us to go for
ward, shoulder to shoulder, for victory."
Bitter partisanship In the senate over
the conduct of the war government
threatened today to spread to the house.
Republlcatih-ana some Democrats
charging that he country is being mis
led as to the wttr work of the adminis
tration, are being answered spiritedly
by both Democratic leaders and "war
chiefs" at the other end of the avenue,
whose work la under fire.
Under the duress of the great west
front battle, the bitterness on both
! siaes nas lea to many inaccurate state
the public out definitely on Just what
has or has not been accomplished. If
it accomplishes that, the clrtics say,
their attacks will not have been ln vain.
Smoot Attacks President
The two debates over the conduct of
the war did not assume strong par
tisan aspect, until late Wednesday, when
Senator Williams of Mississippi charged
that Republican criticism had been be
gun with a view to help Representative
Irvine L. Lenroot win the senatorial
election in Wisconsin.
That angered -Republicans, who said
i their record of nonpartisan support of
! the government has been better than
i that of the Democrats. Senator Smoot
1 closed the day with a violent attack on
President Wilson who, he charged, is
partisan to the last degree and ' thinks
all the country's loyalty Is concentrated
ln the Democratic, party.
Manager Denies Charge
Buffalo. N. Y- March 28. CL. N. S.)
James K. Kepperley, general manager"
of the Curtiss plant in Buffalo, made
flat denial of the statements mads by
Senator Overman in the senate this aft
ernoon. He said If there are any. spies
in the Curtiss plant die does not know tt
and would be glad to have anyone help
him catch them. . He denied-the charge
that Bristol plane made at the plant
had been . tampered with so - that the
I first one tried out fell during the trlaL
P
IE
i!0I TENABLE
Count de Portanier de la Ro-
chette of French Mission, De
clares the Offensive on West
ern Front Shows Weakness.
Retreat From Old Battle Line in
1916 Was Strategic Move, Be
cause of Weak Position, and
Now Occupy Like Relation.
That the German advance puts the
Hun armies into the same unfavorable
strategic position they held prior to
their retirement in 1916 was asserted
today by Count de Portanier de la
Rochette of the aviation section of the
French mission to America, who wits-
Lieutenant Alberto Cantoni, Royal
Italian flying corps, is in Portland to
confer with Colonel Brlce P. Disque re
garding airplane production. They
came at the colonel's request.
Both offioers, high ln the allied mili
tary service, were cheerful today in dis
cussing the German gains on the west
front.
Their optimism was both for condi
tions on tji front and for the produc
tion of Oregon and Washington sprues
for airplanes.; . .
Count de Xi jpetit S years
ln the trenches before he was trans
ferred to the aviation section and sub
sequently t appointed sv -fnsmber of the)
commercial division of the French mis
sion to th United States. He said:
.'The offensive the Germans, have Just
perpetrated on the western front Is a
Sign of their weakness. It was a des
perate last attempt to crush the allied
forces.
The German retreat from the old
battle line ln 1916 was a strategic move.
They were in a weak position and by re
treating made their position stronger.
Now witH their present offensive they
are again In their weaker location and
they have lost the best shock troops.'
Both ' officers accentuated the . fact
that the magnitude of the allied air pro-
cram depended upon the amount of
spruce obtainable from the Northwest.
"French and Italian aircraft manufac
turers will take all the spruce they can
get. Our government's eyes are turned
to the Pacific coast," said Lieutenant
Cantoni, who is on his second visit to
Portland. He was here -a year ago.
"It is remarkable to note the results
that have ben accomplished ln getting
out spruce," he said. " "A year ago all
was disorganization, the government ob
tainlng spruce wherever any operator
-was willing to cut it. Under the pres
ent system the spruce program is well
under way.
Count de la Rochette "and Lieutenant
Cantoni will be . escorted through the
soruce camos andvnllls before retumine
to Washington. Major Fred Lead better
tr & -
who arrived with the officers from
Washington, has arranged for them to
gather first-hand information regard-
ing the program.
Shipping Losses
Increase Sharply
London, March 28. (U. P.) Twenty-
nine British vessels were sunk during
the week ending March 27, according to
the admiralty's report. Of these 16
were over 1600 tons. Among those
under that displacement, one was a
fishing vessel.
This is the greatest number of British
merchantmen sunk in one week since)
the week of September 16. 1917, when
the same number was destroyed. At
that time only eight of the vessels
were over 1600 tons.
English Capture
Turkish Frontier
London. March 28. (U. P.) Operat
ing in the Euphrates valley, northwest
of Hit. British forces in a "highly sue
cessful operation'' captured or destroyed
virtually the entire Turkish frontier'
forces in that area.
"Three thousand prisoners were
taken. Including a divisional comman
der and more than 200 officers, to
gether with 10 guns, 2000 rifles and
other booty."
BATTLE IS NOT OVER YET
By Ed L. Keen
LONDON, March 28. (U. P.) Undue optimism regarding
.the immediate checking of the German rush must be
guarded against. ? The, first crisis is past, but the battle' is
far from ended. . -
The character of the next phase depends upon whether the
Germans are able to replace their wasted, and exhausted divis
ions and bring tip the-vast material and supplies needed for, a
further push, before the allied 'reserves can be prepared for a
gigantic counter; blw. ; : ! - -? - .
-A
MONTDIDIER, south of
Amiens, has been cap
tured by the Germans,
according to today's dis
patches. It is an important
railroad center, about 57 miles
from Paris.
HBKtT.ES
USE OF INFERIOR
STEELCHARGED
Two Are Indicted in San Fran
cisco on Charge of Substitu
tion in Ship Work.
San Francisco, March 28. (U. P.) I
Prosper J. Forrest, secretary and man
ager of the Edwin Forrest company.
Zt, trTXZnt E thl
federal grand jury today, charged with
.mpTor and" viXung tte esonage
act
reeJveramweek.
accused of substituting inferior steel on
wtdTTitS, naimS'pe
inferior material.
The grand Jury's Indictment is oad
on the case of a ship building for the
Emergency Fleet corporation at st.
Johns, near Portland, and not only is
the substitution alleged, but it is
charged that it was done with wilful
intent to injure and endanger the safety
of the vessel in violation of the espion-
age act.
Though both have received large
quantities of material from the Edwin
SETS emfmn.d. omcia1sVeof the Z'-
'V ? Art sr&LJ'
. NrmbrsJ
Bc&avsis. 'jC aBr
: W stt
i-4 . Mtaux fU A JK&
bma Engine eV Machine works and a thrust between Lens and, Arras, with the object of cutting off the !
tSionP,aaid thu XSSnS thed latter city, which marks the northern part of the present drive.
not believe that their plants were re-
fToeatPh iSpST oVprrBaiiin
said, however, that two weeks ago two
iU ihahu ftantnwe?e?todnbrmte
to Portland &f rornln tFrwciKo nd
returned - on account of inferior de-
mt lnor The tafi .aft. BformTd
only part of the shipment and the re-
mainder was allowed to proceed. .He
added that all 'other material received
was found in good shape.
vSSSmSl
his plant had received a good deal of
material from the Forrest company,
Officials of the Grant Smith-Porter
company, which is located at st. Johns.
say that company has Placed orders for
SSSS"SI1
was on the way a month or six weeks
Itn' FraoPPbue"ny
other orders were canceled and no ma-
terlal has been received from that com- i London, March 28. (I. N. 8.) Th
pany. Dely ln the securing of material J British have captured a number of Oer
as a result of this caused the ship com- 1 man prisoners and machine guns In the
pany.
PRICE TWO CENTS S?.iR?m$lv7SSi
P
ER1MS START HE
0
Annex 1 nOHTH
PftHT DF WEST I
Terrific Battle Lasts During Night, but
Repeated Assaults Are Repulsed by ";
British, Who Make Capture of Prison
ers and Guns; Weather Threatening.
Thrust Is Made by Huns at French Line
and Montdidier Is Captufed; French
Are Reported to Have Retired With
. Forces Intact; Germans Capture Fewer.;.
eS""i"aaaaia.aBaaaaaa.a.aataa
T ONDON. March 28. (U. P.) The British front has
L- been pierced at a new point, the war office announced
this evening.
Opposite Arras, the British, forward zone" has been
penetrated, it was announced. . . . - r
This is on the extreitie right flank of the German ad-
vance.
Between Hainvillers and Ponet-l'eveque, one mile
east of Noyon, the French concentrated in force on a front ;
of more than six miles and drove the Germans back nearly
two miles.
By William Philip Simms "
WITH THE BKlTlbH AKM I lib LN rKAIS., Aiarcft ZBr -.
(U. P.) A heavy bombardment occurred this miofning be.
... A A s-V, Airilljk f Vi Qrii-VT r!vr tTfrerri. mrr tlrt .
infantry actions there. ,v.
West of Beaumont-Hamel the enemy is attacking in great -strength.
Heavy fighting is ensuing. ; 1 ;
The Germans last night launched attack after attack against'
the British positions in Rosignol
to be hurled back. They seemed
ern edge, but were driven out after hard fighting.
Near Sailly-Laurette (five miles west and south of Bray on the -
Somme river) and northward (toward the Ancre), the British a,re
taking prisoners. .
The weather at the beginning of the second week of the battle ,
is threatening.
...... , , ., , V '' '
Acheville is an important town three miles southeast of Icns
and ab0ut soven miles northeast of Arras. ,.The Souchez river ft a -
... . , . , t .1
small stream flowing southwestward through the southern out- ,
skirts of Lens, passing through
, . , I r 7 . .
I soumwest ui i-ciia. jusi cusi
Ridge.
This is the first activitv reported in this rerh'on since the start
of the German drive. It may
. London, March 28.-(U P.)-The Umdoa war office this eve-
nmg announced the present battlehne as follows : . -
"The runs from Hamel to Lamottient-Santerne to Coix-
urely to .Warviller to Arviller to Davenescourt and Gralibus to;
MeStlil-St. Georges to HainvillerS. '''
' "The French were pressed back on the Roye-Breteuil road,"
the Statement Said. , .
.
. i
Arleux, mentioned m the British official report, is five and a
half miles northeast of Arras and three miles southeast of Lens,
opposite the famous Vimy Kidge. It is more than three. miles-
north of the Scarpe river, which marked the extreme northern oart
r tU r. j j. , '
ol German advance imtil today.
Fampoux is three miles east of Arras. Neuville-Vitasse is" one '
aAnd a haIf miI north Boisleux, which is three miles south of '
Arras. v f
HainsviUers is three miles east and south of Montdidier,
. ,
great battle of Picardy, the war office
announced today.
This la the first time that the antes
have claimed the capture of prisoners
and war materials since the fighting
began, week ago. and It strongly In
dicated that the allied counter-offensive
Is finally under way and gathering mo
mentum.
Fresh, divisions were used by the
Germans in a renewal of their attacks
of the batU son. Teutonic pressure
against the French on the southern end
centered east of Roy, where the French
mads a small retirement In the direction
of Montdidler. , i
(Montdidier is about seven mQes mils
from Roys.) ' .
As' the drive) against the Anglo-French
army ln Picardy wanes, the alliesvtoun-ter-thrust
Is getting strength. A
wood, in the same region, only
once to have penetrated the east-
the city of Souchez, five rmiles
, A , ... . , ,T,
ui .rvtncvinc it inc iamous Vimy
presage a German attempt to start
Advices from the front today indi '
cated that the German armies were
worn out by constant fighting and that '
their moral had been shaken by their '
tremendous losses.
Hsss Harled Back for Loss
A correspondent of the Dally Mail
in Franc estimated the German caaual--tles
for the first seven days of fighting ''
as 800,009, but military critics generally .
take the view that they were much mor '
some placing the number at 600,000. -
Field Marshal Hair in a lat 'report
from British headquarters said that the
battle was renewed on Wednesday both
north and south of the Sornms'and
that fighting was raging with th ut-roostvlolenc.-
- t .. .
On the line south of Hosiers - and
north of Ablalnsevtll th Germans sua
talned . heavy losses by their rpatd
attacks tat mas -formation, - Th Gr
(CeaeloOed s .rasa Two, Cahmn TssxIl