Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-03-23

out. Reuters correspondent at British
headquarters telegraphs. A large
party was surrounded and probably
was captured.
There is reason to believe fifty
German divisions are flowing into the
struggle. the correspondent states. and
' probably half as many more are In
c'ose reserve. Under the tremendous
onslaught the British troops are fall.
ing back very slowly and in excellent
order. At many places they are with
tdrawing voluntarily so as to maintain
an unbroken. front.
The scenes of activity behind the
battle front baffle description. but
everywhere there is the same we'll or
dered organization and quiet conf
dence.
The weather is wonderfully Yine al
though the visibility is handicapped
by local mists. 4,-
Mory is on the northern. battle front,
fifteen miles beiow A"ras. 1t is about
four miles back of the line held by
the British before the Germans be-
! gan their offensive.
Throughout the night the battle
II ont extended southwark and it vas
reported this morning that the French
army was now engaged.
The Germans this morning we're
pressing hard the British forces de-
Tending Hermtes (about 2 1-2 miles
back of the old line, in the region
southwest of Cambrai).
British Hold Solid Front.
British Army Headauarters in
lantly fighting. are still presenting a
solid front to the ierce'y attacking
Germans. although the defensive
troops have withdrawn their lines in
certain places for strategic reasons.
All day yesterday and much of last
night the conflict continued to rage
with increasing violence, as fresh
German divisions were hurled into the
fray in an attempt to smash through
the British defenses.
More intense fighting is expected.
The operation is so vast and 10
changing with such Kaleidoscope
rapidity as the line surges backwards
and forward that it is impossible to
Visualize the scene sufficiently to give
an accurate account of it at present.
Forty-nine German divisions rave
been identified thus far on the battle
front and prisoners have been taken
from eighteen Of them. Some esti-
mates place the number Of German
NtN CI6N6So az LIS a. Akl1Cky .
but 1t is impossible to say whether this
is accurate.
Penetrate Second Lines.
Berlin. March 23.--Between Fon-
taine Les Croiee les and Noeuvres,
German forces penetrated into ths
second enemy position and captured
two villages, army headquarters an
nounced today. British counter at
tacks failed.
So far, the statement
$4,000 prisoners, 400 guns and 900
machine guns have been taken. The
two villages taken on the F%ontaine-
Moeuvres front were Vaulx-Vrau-
court and Morchies.
tThe former village is 3 1-2 miles
and the latter about 2 l-2 miles be-
hind the. former British .front.) +
A crossing over the Disc west of
La Fere (12 miles south of st. Quen-
tin) was forced by Jaeger battalions,
it is ANNOUNCED.
Between the Omignon stream and
Somme after. the capture OF the first
enemy positions the Germans made
their way through .Holnon wood and
fought across the heights Of Savy and
Roupy. penetrating into the third
hostile position. =
South Of the somme the Germans
broke through the hostile lines, adds
the report, and in an uninterrupted
forward movement drove the enemy
over the Crozat canal towards the
west.
The announcement says the Ger
mans are standing before the third
enemy aposition.@sttt reports.athAtg the
British evacuated their positions in