New-York tribune., 1918-03-24

chies. Strong British counter at
tacks failed. Between Gonnelieu and
the Omignon stream the first two enc
my positions were penetrated The
heights west of Gouzeacourt, Heudi-
court and Nillers-Faucon were capt
ured , and in the Valley of the Cologne
stream Roisel and Marquaix were
stormed
The fighting around Epehy heights
was bitter. These heights, being en-
circled from the north and south. the
enemy was compelled to leave for our
troops. Between Epehy and Roisel
the enemy vainly endeavored by means
OF strong counter attacks to bring our
VIGOROUSLY advancing troops to q
standstill. He was driven back every
where with the heaviest losses.
"The heights north of Vermand were
stormed. We stand before the third
enemy position. Under the effect of
this success the enemy evacuated his
positions in the bend southwest of
Cambral. We pursued him through
Demlcourt. Flasquleres and Ribecourt.
Between the Omignon stream and
the Somme corps of the army group
of the German Crown Prince, after
the capture of the first enemy posi-
tions, made their way through Honon
Wood and fought across the heights
of Savy and Roupy, penetrating into
the third enemy position. South Of
the Sommc divisions broke through
the enemy lines and in an uninter-
rupted forward movement drove the
enemy over the Crozat Canal toward
the west Jaeger battalions forced a
crossing of the Disc west of La Ferc.
In company with divisions following,
they stormed the heights northwest OF
the town, which are crowned with the
permanent works of La Fere
Much Booty Claimed
"The captures so far reported by the
army group Of Crown Prince Rupprech
are $4,000 prisoners and 25O guns; by
the army group of the German Crown
Prince, 10000 prisoners, $50 guns and
300 machine guns.
"Artillery battles continue between
the Lys and La Bassee Canal, on bott
sides of Rheims, before verdun and in
Lorraine"
Powerful enemy attacks delivered
with great weight of infantry and ar
tlllery have broken through the British
defensive system west of st. Quentin,
said the first British War Office an
nouncement to-day.
The British troops on the northern
portion of the battlefield are holding
their positions.
The British west of st. Quentin are
falling back in good order to positions
further west. Very heavy fighting
with fresh enemy forces is in progress.
The statement follows:
Heavy fighting continued until late
hours last night on the whole battle
front. During the afternoon powerful
hostile attacks, delivered with great
weight of infantry and artillery, broke
through our defensive system west of
st. Quentin.
"Our troops on this part of the bat
tlefront are falling back in good order
across the devastated area to prepared
positions further west.
Our troops on the northern por-
ton of the battlefront are holding
their positions.
-, Very heavy fighting with fresh hos
tile forces is in progress"
The Vienna War Office announced
to-day that a great success has been
won in the West.
The British night official statement
/ said:
"The battle is continuing with the
! greatest intensity on the whole front
south of the Scarpe River.
South and west of St. Quentin ou1
troops have taken up their new posi-
tons, and we are heavily engaged witt
the enemy.
During the night strong hostile at
tacks IN the neighborhood of Juss,
tsouth of st. Quentin) were repused
with great loss to the enemy.
"On the northern portion of tht
battlefront the encmys attacks hav,
been pressed with the utmost dctermi
nation and regardless of losses. Gu
troops have maintained their position:
on the greater part of this front afteI
fierce and prolonged struggle"
An official statement of the aerial op
erations issued by the British War OF
flee tonight says:
"a thick morning mist on Frida,
prevented our airplanes from leavin,
the ground during the early part of tn
day. When the mist cleared there wa
much activity in the air on one battle
front. The enemy's low flying ma
chimes were particularly accurate, en-
-