Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-26
BRITISH AND FRENCH
HOLD Front INTACT
DURING RET |REMENT
Apparently Waiting for Opportune
Moment for Delivering
Counter Blow.
GERMANS GETTING TIRED
By Associated Press 20 Every Evening
AWAITING THE HEOPPORTUNITY.

Although still giving ground at points
before the desperate German drive, the
British and French armies engaged IN
the great battle IN northern France are
preserving their united front intact, and
apparently awaiting the opportunc mo-
mcnt for the delivery of Il countcr-biow
10 dispcl the German dream OF world
domination.
Big events are impending In the Inn
mediate future. at any rate, and the adj
vices from the front Indicate that these
arc expected "a develop favOrahlv TO the
Nlhes. probably within the next few hours.
PAYING HEANY PRICE.
All accounts agree Germany is paying
heavily for every foot of ground she has
wrcsted from the Nlied armies Her
casualties are shown hv the British Off
Ciai statement To- have mounted so high
that every part OF the western front has
had "a be drawn upon 10 provide badly
needed rcInfurcemcnts for the battle
arCl
l~ING L. THEIR FORCES.
tlcld Marshal Hang report reveals
that more than 20 divisions. or between
500. 900 and 100000 men. already have
hccn engaged IN The battle on the Ger
man side. and hC widespread call for
fresh troops makes " PLAIN that the fight
ing forces are being rapidly used up in
Tie terrific and costly onslaught Forty
divisions ot the German reserve are re-
ported la have been thrown INTO the line
~ cariS as fhc second day of the battle
The rcarward movement in the face
a. the Fcuonic attack now has brought
The Nlicd armies we'll toward the edge
of thcir former battle lines in the Sommc
area. aud ~ the devastated region to
tht- SolIt LraSt
THf NEw RKIrsH LINE.
Elcld Marshal Haig reports the new
British line drawn somewhat tn the east
of ilhcrt and Rove Paris indicates
the French sighting front rs extending
spiIiWlrd from ChaulncS, past Noyon,
Nhicl has been evacuated bV the French.
and then running eastward along the
southern bans Of the river nI>,.
GERMAN TROOP, rIRtNG.
The German troops have been reported |
q, rapidly tinng from thcr brcathlcss |
dr.vn ia tho Entente front and they /
c,licutI, were forced 70 take hrrat hing |
~pcli last night opposite the British front, |
IS the London noonday statement r. |
port the fighting 20 have died down |
This morning however. fresh forces |
probably bad been brought up and the |
attack was beng resumed south Of the |
Summc IA tho RoNc and ChaulneS areas |
II Is IN this >cctar and in the \ovon |
region that the German wedge IS being /
driven IN hardest and i Is here or on the |
Inc u the east should the Germans /
further expose their left wing that the |
weight Of the expected counter blow may |
"a II
FRENCH HOLD THEIR LINE.
The French on their front are holding |
-. 4 n 49,
ARTILLERY Is cutting huge swaths in the |
German columns and the French infantry |
b making frequent countcr-atiackS. in /
thcung heavy losses upon The Germans |
and 7, tardmg their advance,
The British evidently arr maintaining
their marked superiority ia tie air on /
The battle front and arc throwing the |
German supply stations and lines OF /
COMMUNICATION IN the rear into confusion |
b. ar attack- ~ close rangc
GLRNtN~ AEE wEAiA
The tcuaclty 81 The British resistance /
exceeded ANYTHING the Germans deemed |
po>~lt. hes complain of great priya- |
tons on account ot lack of supplies and |
extreme WEAKNESS also i~ telling heavily
Owing e the dense masses Of supporting
troops however he enemy lS able 10 /
rcpI'u>iL h.> forward line with fresh |
unit
AlgNf y }tIs;A~~ GERMANS
brush alrmou list night made verit-
tahlc paudemonUn 81 every center Of |
concentration ul traffic behind the Ger
uiau troni lens oi thousands o, rounds
Wefe hred ptluthlauk INTO the enemy
formations Wf!ie a!rmen fulfilled eifec-
tyc.f thctf role ewes Of The artillery
SUrRLN. by ron BRITISH CT uNNEK~
Yesterday Wa Ia. supreme day for the
RTf>L gInucr~ says Il correspondent
Attacking from north OF ErvIllers to the
POM u British contact with the French
ttle Germans were held up nearly every-
Where bN the ccaselcs> intensity Of the
BRITISH artillery frc.
Naa-.- ii enemy troops winch. coming
forward IN NaVc~ again and again at
tempted - reach their obicctivcS. met
WITH the same tate as Tho Old Guard a
Waterloo. In only one sector near
SspgnIe>. dld they succeed in bending
back the British front Il WAS 10 con.rn
tn point with tins indentation that the
British t~li back during the night.
Strengthening oll the line
.LhMA> Los uLatA
Report from al along the front indI-
cat that tie German los ii life. yes,er-
ua, va heavy Tho enemy advanced
ag.. - tIhoe gunner ehl were 1lrine
Vifll apu sights
l-.- mE.t Eui- a.uucu look hcavl
ti' IRON thr G.sInen infantry in Ba-
IaIin.
No ,.hiclA, ag4rc- arc II hand, but from
compilations made personally, the cor
nspJudcht Is convinced that at least
l30 German airpliueS have been brought
down in the last five days.
iie fighting Yesterday continued With
NOR or les intensity along the whole
Lnc The Germans pushed hard Ia the
OF Fonches ChauInes Is
trees, DompIerre, MIranmont, Achiet lie
Grand, Saplgnics and ErviIlcrs Heavy
lighting occurred about GrevilleTs. and a
desperate conflict was waged in The vicin-
nv d Nesle, which the Germans how hold
he enemy also attacked strongly ID
the direction Of NCyou, but met with
. renUous Resistance. which appeared TO
stem the advance 4 further massing Of
German troops was reported at Peronne
and north Of Bapaume, both OF which
the enemy holds
BRITISH AIKMEN's GREAT WORN
Bapaunc was turned into an Inferno
by squadrOns OF British aviators Their
bonn tore 70 pieces whatever was left !
o. the place. The work Of the British |
alrmen since the beginning Of the battle
has been one Of the brightest pages. /
BITTER battles IN the air have been fought |