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Show HARD FIGHTING IN NEIGHBORHOOD , OF ST. QUENTIN PARIS, March 22, 10:45 p. m Hard fighting- has been in progress between the French and Germans in the neighborhood neighbor-hood of St. Quentin. According to the official of-ficial statement by the war orfice tonight the Germans made a number of attempts to drive back the French from the east bank of the St. Quentin canal, but the attacks failed. There also were lively engagements en-gagements west of. La Fere, one of the German strongholds. The statement reads: ' In the region of St. Quentin skirmishes skir-mishes between patrols have occurred north of Dallon. Between the Somme and the Oise the enemy made violent attempts to drive us back from the east banlc of tho canal of St. Quentin, which we occupy in front of Clastres and Montescourt. Successive Suc-cessive attacks were broken down by our machine-gun fire. Spirited engagements to the west of La Fere likewise ended in a complete com-plete check for the enemy. South of tbe Olse our detachments crossed the Ailette river at several points. North of the Aisne the Germans renewed re-newed their attempt between the Laon road and the river. Three attacks at-tacks against tho Vregny Chivres lino were arrested by our barrage fire. South of the Aisne, enfilading the enemy's troops, our artillery inflicted in-flicted upon them very heavy losses, i The artillery fighting was quite vio-i vio-i lent in the Woevre at the foot of the Meuse hills. An enemy attempt on the Hornainvllle farm, sector of St. Mi-hlel, Mi-hlel, was unsuccessful. There is nothing to report on the rest of the front. All reports confirm that the enemy has systematically pillaged and ravaged rav-aged the evacuated zone without, in a majority of the cases, military reasons. rea-sons. For instance, General von Fleck, commandant 17, E. C. A. German, Ger-man, on quitting Ham carried away ' the furnishings of the house that he occupied in that town. Belgian communication: Last night and today both artll- , leris have been active on the Dix- mude front and the neighborhood of the Ferryman's house waa shelled by the Belgian artillery. |