The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1918-03-29

known until 1t is struck, but Ii may
be expected that it's impact will be
terrific.
1t is officially reported that 70 Ger
man divisions, or $4,000 men, have
taken part in the fighting, and that
troops have been moved from every
part of the western battle front to re-
enforce the armies which have been
forcing the British to fall back.
Observers at the front say that the
German losses have been frightful,
and that the enemy has lost from 10
to 20 per cent of his men, by the
most conservative estimates
British Smash Attack.
British Army Headquarters in
France, March 27.-There is reason TO
believe important events will be re-
corded within the next few hours
which may lead to a betterment OF the
position of the armies which are stem
ming the German onslaught. The enc
my is fighting desperately hard against
time. On the first day his reserves
we're reduced to~52 divisions. At the
end of the second day some 40 di-
visions from the reserves had been put
in. A heavy German attack about En-
villers was completely smashed by the
British artillery fire.
Germans Lose 100000.
Washington March 27.-Calcula-
lions based on the number of troops
employed and the methods ny which
they have been employed, lead experts
to estimate the German losses at APP
proximately $4,000 men daily since
last Tuesday. This would mean Ger
man casualties of 10000 to date.
British lnfIict Heavy Losses.
London, March 26.-Battling for
every point of vantage, giving ground
only when overwhelmed by numbers
and exacting a frightful toll of lives
for every foot of ground abandoned,
the British line in Picardy is still in
tact.
While the German onslaught gained
ground at a number of points on Mon
day, there was no sign of diSintegra-
ton in the British forces, which at
many points, especially on the north
ern end of the long line of battle, are
standing firm.
The largest gains made by the Ger
mans have been west of ST. Quentin,
where they have captured Nesle and
Guiscard
Military observers discern n the
scheme of the German attack a repeti-
ton of the German ''pincer' system
of attack, which was used by Won
Mackensen in Russia, ROumania and
Serbia This attack consists of two
attacks 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.
EIude German Trap.
The British have foreseen the dan
ger and have met it by first checking,
then forcing the northern jaw of the
pincer southwark, while they have
not fallen into the German trap. The
pressure of the defenders of the
Somme front seems to be bending the
whole German attack to the south,
where it is hoped it's force will be dis
sipated.
Fighting of the most severe
description has been taking place all
day on wide fronts south of Peronne
and south and north of Bapaume,"
says Field Marshal Haig's report from
British Headquarters in France.
InfIct Heavy Losses on Foe.
tsDuring the morning of March % our
troops on the front from the SOmme
as far north as Wancourt had beaten |
off continuous and heavy attacks with
complete success.
''Heavy losses have been inflicted on
the enemy by our artillery and machine !
guns, while our lOw-fiying airplanes re-
peatedly attacked the enemy's advanc- |
ing columns farther to the rear.
The day communication states that |
the British drove back to the eastern |
bank of the Somme bodies of German
troops which had crossed the river be- |
tween Licourt and Brie, south Of Pc
rome, and repulsed powerful attacks |
of the afternoon northward of Ba-
paume.
Report From Berlin.
Berlin, March 26-"Between the
Somme and the Oise." says the official |
report from headquarters, "our troops !
are fighting their way forward"
There was hard fighting" the state
ment continues, Between Bapaume |
and Peronne. We drove the enemy |
back here to his old positions. which |
were held between the Ancre and the |
Somme before the beginning of the |
Somme battle In 1915"
Bapaume was captured in night |
fighting.
In the evening Nesle was taken by |
storm, the statement adds. British. /
Americans and French we're thrown
back through a painless wooded coun-
try, by way of Wiilequier-Aumont and |