Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-30

troops suppOred by reserves are
Offering desperate resistance to
powerful assaults of the enemy,
the war office announces.
The battle which was resum-
ed with renewed violence during
the night il progressing on
front of 40 kilOmeters (abOut
% miles, from MOrenil to be-
yOnd Lassigny.
London, March 30. - The Ger
mans, attacking yesterday at De
muin and Mezieres. pressed back
the British from Mezieres, the war
office announces.
All the enemy's attempts to cap
ture Demuin broke down after
sharp fighting which lasted
throughout the afternoon.
British Official Report
The statement follows:
North of the Somme only local
actions have taken place. South
of the Somme the enemy's attacks
yesterday at Demuin and Mezieres
succeeded in pressing back our
troops from the latter villege. We
secured a number of prisoners in
our counter attacks. At Demuin
all the enemy's attempts to capture
the village broke down after sharp
the afternoon.
During the past week our cav
airy have fought with great gal
lantry, both mounted and dis
mounted and repulsed the enemy.
inficting heavy losses on him in
numerous engagements"
(MeZieres, captured by the Ger
mans, is in the sector south of the
Somme. where the principal gains
of the Germans in the last few days
have been made. 1t is 10 miles
north Of Montdidier.)
New Storm COmlngl
The Germans are still rushing
forward artillery and reorganizing
their forces, Reuters correspond
ent at British headquarters tele-
graphs. The slowing down in the
battle he says, probably Is only a
lull before another storm OF still
greater intensity.
ras sector penetrated the British
outpost line near Arleux and forced
the posts to withdraw after intense
fighting. This appears to be the
only change in the lines near Ar
ras.
A spectacular maneuver by the
British command just after the
capture of Roeux became known
today. A body of British troops
was cut off when the Germans en-
Roeux on Thursday. The
men chung tenaciously
to the village in the face OF bitter
until night, when un-
der cover of darkness they were
successfully through a
gap which was torn in the enemy's
line.
Sixteen German airplaGes were
put out of action yesterday by the
British. it is announced officially.
Line Holds Firm.
The British line held magnin-
Gently throughout Friday. accord
ing TO Reuters correspondent at
British headquarters in France.
AT one point only" says the
correspondent, where the Ger
mans got across the river In
France about Cerisy and so taking
the troops in the Proyart- -Merlcourt
in the rear, have we
fallen back, but that retirement
was gallantly done. Our men were
taken in the rear before they knew
IT,
"As there were guns to be got
away both infantry and gunners
faced round and for while some
of our field artillery was firing with
open sights into the enemy. Then
the infantry charged and succeed
ed In driving the superior force OF
the enemy back 20 the river bank,
them there until the guns
were got away. This section OF the
line then swung back TO new posi-
tons running by Hamel and La
notte.'
Outlook Favorable.
British Army Headquarters In
FraLce. March 80. (By the Asso-
ciated Press) The situation To-
lay from the entente viewpoint "a
reported more satisfactory. Along q.
he British section OF the battle
front last night was comparatively
quiet.
The British lines have been
Continued On Page TwoO