Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 82, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 April 1918 — GERMAN HOPES WERE HIGH [ARTICLE]

GERMAN HOPES WERE HIGH

PRIOR TO MARCH 21—DIARY OF DEAD GERMAN REVEALS GERMAN AIMS. Correspondents’ Headquarters in France, April 14.—A diary was found on the body of a German officer of the 26th Division killed south of Hebuterne on April 6. It reveals the high hopes of the German army before the great offensive of March 21 their enormous concentration of troops and guns and their ambitious plans of driving a wedge between the French and British armies by hurling all their weight against our own front and advancing “in a westerly direction to the ports of Boulogne, Abbenville, etc.” The enemy’s tactics of breaking off attacks where' they are checked and moving at once to another section where the chance of success may be greater are noted by this German diarist. This plan is exactly what has been adopted by the German high command since March 21. The following are extracts from the diary: “March 18—At last we are getting further information about operations on ttiis front. In three armies huge masses of troops are marching forward in a salient south of Arras. “The attacks will be launched at three different points, the code names for which will be ‘Michael 1,2, 3, Zero.’ The day is to be called ‘Michael day.’ This day is also a symbol for German Michaels, a day of revenge. “A general line of advance in- a westerly direction to the ports of Boulogne, Abbeville, etc., in order to separate the British from the French. “If France is left to herself she will come to terms quickly.. Therefore the chief blows are to be directed against the British. Preparations have been so thoughtfully planned that failure is almost an impossibility. In spite of all this, if it should happen that attack is held up at one point, it will be immedately broken off there and troops moved to another sector.

“We have a colossal amount of artillery at our disposal; for instance in our own division, of which only two regiments will be in line, we have sixty-eight batteries and several hundred trench mortars of various calibers. Gas is to be freely used, and an immeasurable quantity of artillery and attacking infantry is to follow up immediately. Large formations follow behind to deal with booty, wounded and prisoners. “We continue to march smoothly. All precautions are being taken with regard to cover, as hostile aircraft are about everywhere. One hears and sees anti-aircraft fire and machinegun fire with tracer bullets. English aviators continually drop star shells to assist them in searching for roads. Everything passes bn smoothly. And it is strange to think of all the masses of troops whcih are marching westward on all the various roads over a wide front tonight. “ ‘Germany on the march.’ “March 20—Our artillery is four times as great as the enemy’s. Tanks are proved as tractors for the heavy guns. The reserve of officers and N. C. O’s is to be detached from the infantry before it goes into action. Up to the present the enemy appears to have noticed nothing of our movement up. “March 21.—An artillery barrage at 6 a. m. in the direction of Michael sector. In the afternoon we went to the wireless station, where at last we got the first news from the front. The attack was a complete success and the 'enemy entirely taken by surprise. Bullecourt, Croiselles and St. Leger are in our hands. The enemy is also giving way in our sector. “Many artillery regiments have gone up, including Austrians. The spirits of the troops are high, especially as we hear that the affair at Verdun has also succeeded. It is very interesting to watch the aerial activity. As the Michaels’ attack succeeded, it seems hardly probable that further attack planned by Mars, to which we belong will take place. /Copyright, 1918, by the N.Y. Times)