Norwich bulletin., 1918-03-26

hattln- Tor every point or vantage, giving ground only when overwhelmed by numbers and exacting a frightfui toll Of lives for every foot of ground abandoned, the British line in Picardy Is stlll intact. While the German on- slaught gained ground at a number of points on Monday, therA was no sign of disintegration in the British forces, which at many points, especially on the northern end of the long line of kittle. are standing firm.
 The German official report tells of the defeat of the British and their retreat via Ypres and Sally" This would seem to indicate heavy fighting lar 10 the north of the Somme battle field. of which no British report has spoken. There is, however, a town called Sally south of Bapaume and eastward of this place is town known as Ytres. It is probable that these were the points referred to in the statement from Berlin.
 Germans Have Gained Ten Mics. The largest gains made by the Ger mans have been west of St. Quentin, where they have captured Nesle and Guiscard. These points, which are at the tip of the Teutonic attack, are over ten miles from the front as it stood on March q.
 Scheme of German. Attack. Military observers discern in the scheme of the German attack repeti- ton of the German "pincer" system of attack, which was used by on Non Mackensen in Russia, Rumania and Serbia. This attack consists of two attacks some distance apart, vhich, after progressing to some depth, turn toward each other, com polling the forces caught between them to fall back or be in danger of capture.
 Plan of Attack Checked.
 The British have foreseen this dan ger and have met it by first checking, then forcing the northern jaw of the pincer southward. while they have dropped back on the center and have not fallen into the German trap. Thk pressure of the defenders of the Somme front seems to be bending the whole German attack to the south where 1t Is hoped it's force will be dis sipated
 French outfiank Teutons.
 The French positions joined the British to the south of St. Quentin but there have been no reports show ing that the French have fallen back from their advanced positions On the other hands, reports would indi-
 
 nov virtually outfiank the advancing Germans along the Disc river.
 In the meantime, the British strat- egv seems to be devoted to the task of meeting the attack so that it is di- rected no longer straight at the line but is diverted toward the Disc, where the German advance has been mos rapid.
 French Troops Relieve British.
 French troops have taken over sec. tors of the front and have released British units for work farther north Berlin states that Americans have al sO joined in the fighting, but nothing has as yet been officially reported or this point.
 Fall of 5apaume Blow to British
 The fall of Bapaume. in the earil hours of Monday, was a blow to tn, British, but it was the result of de termination to fall back slowly al along the line that is being attacked Official reports state that repeate, heavy attacks on Bapaume were beat CD of by the British, who also force, the Germans back across the Somm nt a number of points. only to fall Dac when the safe retreat of the mai body of the army had been assured.
 German Wedge Losing Speed.
 While the German wedge is sti moving, its progress is not alarming ly rapid, as 1t was in the first rush c the Teutonic hordes. The yieldin line, it is asserted, has absorbed tn impetus of the shock and has weath cred the storm remarkably well.
 Berlin Claims 45,00o Prisoners.
 Berlin claims that 45,Ooo prisoner have been taken. Those were proba bly units which were left to hold til easier defended points while the mai portion of Field Marshal Haigs arm fe1 back
 The British losses have been heav. but it is officially announced that, cor sidering the magnitude of the strus gle, they arc not undue. On the otht hard, the Germans have suffered ter rfbly. even Berlin admitting that th Teuton casualties before Peronne vel comparatively heavy"
 Paris Again Bonharded.
 Paris has again been bombarded | the mysterious German cannon. wfic Is said to have been located in tf forest of St. Gobain south of La Fer An interruption in the bomban1mel on Monday was considered as an ind cation that the mysterious gun, possibly a battery of them had bee located by the French aerial forces.
 In the face of reports of continue falling back on the part of the Britis the people of London and Paris haV preserved remarkable calm. This reflected by the attitude of Washin; "a Kharn t ie 1sit that the munel