The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-03-27
ADDRESSES OF KILLED
NOT TO Be MADE PUBLIC

| General Won Hofacker has forced q
| passage across the Somme and has
taken by storm the height of Maison-
cite, which was so hOtly contested in
| the Somme battle of 1916, as well as
the villages of BiacheS and Barleux.
! Strong enemy counter-attacks wore
! themselves out before our lines
"The army of General Won Hutier,
after hard fighting, drove the enemy
back near Marchelpot and Hattencourt
| across the Peronne-Roye railway. The
tenaciously defended Etalon was
wrested from the French and English"
Heavy Attack on British.
With the British Army in France,
March 27.-The Germans followed up
their progress of Monday at Nesle, on
| the southern battle front, by launching
terrific assault against the British
along line running roughly between
! Hattencourt and the region of Roye.
The British, cooperating with their
French allies, are meeting the on
slaught doggedly and gallantly, and
sanguinary struggle is in progress.
Farther north the enemy also de-
veloped fresh offensive movement to
the south of Suzanne, which lies lit
tie northeast of Bray-sur-Somme.
But the Germans were pushing with
less strength here than in the south
, ern theater, possibly for strategical
reasons.
French Are Holding Firm.
Paris, March 27.-The French
troops cooperating with the British
south of st. Quentin have taken up
strong positions on the left bank Of
| the Disc, above Noyon, where they are
| holding the Germans, according to the
| war office announcement.
The report announced the evacua
| tion by the French of Noyon during
| the night
The battle continues with the great
est violence, and the Germans are
making still greater efforts along the
whole front between Noyon and
| Chaulnes
The first lot of British wounded
| from the German offensive reached
Paris on a special hospital train. They
were distributed among the Paris hos
| pitals
This is the first time British wound
ed have been sent here, although num-
bers passed through Paris during the
early months of the war on their way
to the Versailles palace, which was
/ then used as British hospital.
Report From Berlin.
Berlin, March 27.-The number Of
guns captured by the Germans in the
battle now in progress has increased
to 963, army headquarters announced.
Biaches, Barleaux and Etalon have
| been captured by the German forces.
The Germans are standing on the
| heights to the north of NOyOn. They
| captured Busy, BihucOurt. Biefvillers,
| Grevillers. Irles and Miraumont and
| crossed the River Ancre.
Drive Losing Momentum.
| London. March 27.-After six days
| of terrific fighting the German often
sive in France is beginning to show
signs o. losing its momentum.
| The progress of the enemy has ma
| terially slackened and the form of the
| dent made in the allied line west of
| Cambria has begun to resemble the
| familiar wedgelike salient instead Of
the broad, straight movement of an
offensive which carries all before it.
Apex Beyond Albert.
At it's apex this wedge has gone be-
! yond Albert, to the south of that place,
and is to the westward of the old allied
| line as it stood a year ago when Won
Hindenburg began his strategic re-
| treat"
From this point the line runs off to
the northeast at a gentle angle, with
| the line to the south running back un-
| til it reaches the Disc river.
In spite of tremendous exertions
and terrible losses, the German efforts
| to widen the tip of this salient were
| defeated on Tuesday
The British lines have stood firm
| to the north and have forced the Ger
mans to turn southwark toward the
| point of least resistance.
Official statements issued at London
| confirm the report, from Berlin that
American forces are engaged in the
! struggle.
| They are reported as fighting shoul-
| der to shoulder" with the French and
British in the region of Roye, on the
| south side of the salient driven into
| the allied front.
There has been no official report
sent to Washington as to the identity
Of these troops who are taking part In
this greatest battle in history.
Allies to Strike Back.
With the Slackening of the German
pace there are indications that the al
| lies are ready to strike back some
| where along the front Just where
this blow will be launched will not be
known until 1t is struck but it may
! be expected that its impact will be ter
! rife
1t is officially reported that 70 Ger
man divisions, or $4,000 men, have
taken part in the fighting, and that
/ troops have been moved from every
part of the western battle front to re-
enforce the armies which have been
| forcing the British TO fall back.
Observers at the front say that the
| German losses have been frightful.
and that the enemy has lost from 10
to 20 per cent Of his men. by the
| most conservative estimates