Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 May 1918 — GERMANS ARE PUSHED BACK [ARTICLE]

GERMANS ARE PUSHED BACK

On Morlancourt Line By the Australian Forces. ALLIES ADVANCE 3-4 MILE As Result of Two Assaults Allies Have Advanced Three-Quarters of a Mile—Canadians Reinforce British in Arras Sector. With the American Forces on the French Front, May 6.-—The Germans launched a heavy gas attack against the American troops on the Picardy front during the night. Early in the evening they sent over 15,000 shells, composed chiefly of mustard gas, within a brief period. These shells were followed by an intense artillery iflre at midnight, several hundred gas shells being dropped into the American lines.

Australian and Canadian troops are in action on the British lines along the vital sectors pf the battle front in France. The, Australians have struck the Germans near Morlancourt, between the Ancre and Somme rivers, east of Amiens, and have advanced their lines upward of three-qparters of a mile as a result of two assaults on the Teutonic positions. Hold Important Line. The Canadians have appeared in the Arras sector, further south than they have been since the battles in this region began March 21. This part of the line is most Important, as it defends Arras to the southwest, and includes localities such as Neuville-Vltasse, Mercatel and Boisleaux-St. Mare, there has been bitter struggles si bee the Germane launched their great offensive. Italian Front Duiet. Along the rest of/ the front in France there have been no engagements of unusual ynaracter, nor has the Italian Wont been attacked as yet by the Austrians who have assembled there. The British forces which have been holding the town of Es-Sault, east of the Jordan and northeast, of Jeriobo, for about a week, have been compelled again to abandon the place before superior forces of Turkish and German troops. The British, however, are, still maintaining their control of the crossings of the Jordan further south. Allies Hold Vantage. From the pffleial reports and special dispatches filed by correspondents at the front, there come intimations that heavy fighting may be resumed at any time. The fact that heavy rains are falling may have a great deal to do with the delay in the German drive, but the allies IhoJd high ground from which they can observe the German positions, which are generally in the and have kept up a heavy artillery Are in sectors where the Germans hawe been assembling or have been at work in bringing up guns for the battle which is virtually, certain to come.

Expect Triple Attack. There is a feeling along the French front that the Germans may attack in the Ypres, Arras and Amiens sectors at the same time. These blows, while carried on independently, would really be phases of a new attempt to cut through the high ground to the southwest of Ypres. ■ It has been pointed out by observers that an attack on the Arras sector, either on the apex between Arras and Lens, or on the sides of the allied lines as they stretch back from those citiefj must come before the Germans can hope to carry their advance in either Flanders or Picardy much further. It is reported that heavy forces are being assembled before Arras for the expected attack. Little news relative to the internal situation in Austria has come over the cables, but from Serbian sources it is learned that on at least two occasions there have been fights between the Slovenian population of that, countfry and the Germans. The methods by which the German military authorities have dealt with the Ukrainians have been denounced in both Berlin and Vienna by socialist leaders. . ,