Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-26
GERMANS CAPTURE
NESLE, TEN MILES
FROM OLD FRONT
French Troops Take Over
Part of Positions Former
ly Held by Their Ally.
Won HINDEMBURG TRYING
TO USE GIANT "PINCERS"
Pressure of Defenders Of Sommc
DETECTING Whole Teutonic
Attack to South.
ENEMY OCCUPIES BAPAUME
Prussian Wedge Still Moving. but
Rapidity OF Its Progress Has
Been Greatly Checked.
ENEMY OCCUPIES UME
rsr Assoc.n,cd Press.l

tBy Associated Press.l
Battling for every point OF vantage.
giving ground only when overwhelmed
by numbers and eSacting a friShtfu!
toll ot lives for every foot OF ground
abandoned, the British line in picardy
is Still intact. While tho German
onslaught gained ground at Il number
ot points Monday. there was 10
sign OF disintcgration in the British
forces. which at many points. cspcci-
ally OIL the northern end Of the long
line OF hattie. arc standing firm
The German official report tells OF
the defea; o; the British and their
"rctrca, via Ypres and Sally" This
would seem TO Indicate heavy lighting
far to the north OF the Somme battle
field. of which no British report has
spoken. There, however. is a town
called Sally south OF Bapaumc. and
eastward of this place is "a town
known as Ytres. 1t is probable that
these were the points referred to in
the statement from Rc-lir::~'-
The larges, gains made by the Ger-
mans have been west of St. Quentin.
where they have captured Ncslc and
Guiscard These points. which are n.
the tip Of the Teutonic attack. are
more than ten miles from the from, as
it stood.
HOW THE "PfNCER"
SYSTEM WDRIIS
Military observers discern in the
scheme OF the German attack re-
petition Of the German "pincer', sys.
tenn OF attack, which was used by
Won Mackensen in Russia. Roumania
and Serbia. This attack consists of
two attacks OF some distance apart.
which. after progressing to some depth,
turn toward each other. compelling
the forces caught between them to fall
back or be in danger OF capture.
The british have foreseen THIS
danger. and have met It by arst check
ing. then forcing the northern jaw os
the pincer southward. while they have
dropped back on the center and have
not fallen into the German trap The
pressure Of tho defenders OF the Somme
front seems TO he bending Ih. whole
German attack 10 the south. whore ii
is hoped it's force will be diSspatcd
FRENCH ON OISE RIVER
OUTFLANk GERMANS
The French positions Join the Britt
ish TO the south OF st. Quentin. bun
there nave been no reports showing
That the French have fallen back from
their advanced positions. On the other
hand reports would Indicate that the
original French lines now virtually
outhank the advancing Germans along
the Disc River
In the meantime, the British STRAIT
cEy seems to be devoted to the task
OF meeting the attack, so that il is
directed no longer straight at the line.
hut is diverted toward the Disc, where
the German advance has been most
rapid.
AMERICANS ENGAGED
IN BIG battle
French troops have taken over sec
tors of the front and have released
British units for work farther north.
Berlin states that Americans have also
joined in the fighting.
The fall OF Bapaumc in the early
hours OF Monday was blow to the
frit'sh. but 1t was the result OF a de-
termination to fall back slowly all
along the line that is being attacked
Official reports state that repeated
heavy attacks on Bapaume were beaten
Off by the British. who also forced the
Germans back across the Somme at a
number of points. only TO fall back
when the safe retreat OF the main body
Of the army'had been assured.
GERMANY SAYS $4,000
PRISONERS HAVE BEEN TAKEN
While the German wedge is still NOV
ins' its progress is not alarmingly rapid
as ii was in the first rush OF the leu
tonic hordes. The yielding lire. il is
asserted. has absorbed the impetus OF
the shock and has weathered the storm
remarkably well. Berlin claims that
$1,000 prisoners have been taken. These
were probably units which were left
TO hold the more easily defended points
while the main portion of Field Mar
shall iiaig's army fell back.
The Rritisif losses have been heavy.
but it is officially announced that. CON
siderins the magnitude OF the struggle,
they are not undue. On the other hand,
the Germans have suffered terribly,
even Berlin admitting that the Teutonic
casualties before Peronnc were COM
paratively heavy"
Paris has again been bombarded by
the mysterious German cannon. which
is said to have been located in tho
forest OF st. Gobain, south OF La Ferc.
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