The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-03-25
U. S. TROOPS
NOW ENGAGED
IN BIG BATTLE
American and French Reserves
Join British in Gigantic
Struggle.
Berlin CLAIMS new GAINS
Official Statement Says Allied Armies
Counter-Attack Were Thrown
Back on ChauIny-Ham
and ?eronne Captured.

and peronne Captured.
Berlin, March 25.-The latest official
war office statement reads:
Between the SOmme and the Disc
our corps are fighting their way for
ward. Chauny has been taken.
Our booty in war material is enor-
nous. The English in their retirement
are burning French towns and villages.
"a gigantic struggle is taking place
for Bapaume. A battle is in progress
on the Transloy -Combles- -Maurepas
line.
1.-The Somme has been crossed at
many points in our attack between
Peronne and Ham,"
Washington, March 25.-American
troops were in the thick of the fighting
on the British front, according to re-
ports reaching Washington. While
news was fragmentary, it was stated
that the Americans included engineers.
Several of our engineer regiments are
believed to have been with the Haig
forces in the Cambrai region. The re-
ports were also to the effect that addf-
tiOnal American troops, comprising
some of the reserve units provided for
by the supreme war council at Yer
sailles, also We're used in withstanding
the terrific German drive. This re-
serve originally was composed of Brit
ish and French forces, but Americans
are understood 20 have been added.
These Americans, probably including
both infantry and artillery, are dis
tinct from those holding sectors of the
western front at other points.
British in New Positions.
London, March 25.-"North of Per-
onne," says the official statement from
British headquarters in France,
"enemy attacks were directed with the
the River Tortille Ga tributary of the
Somme).
Our troops on this portion of the
battle front have been withdrawn and
are fighting on new positions.
Farther north repeated assaults by
been repulsed with heavy loss to the
enemy.
''In this fighting the Seventeenth
and Fortieth divisions greatly distin-
guished themselves, beating off many
hostile attacks"
Huns Cross Somme River.
Fresh hostile attacks developed this
morning in great strength on the whole
battle front" says Field Marshal
Haig's report from headquarters, "and
they have continued throughout the
day.
South of PerOnne the enemy sue
ceeded, after heavy fighting, in cross
ing the River SOmme at certain points.
These are being dealt with"
Claim 10000 Prisoners.
London, March 25.-The number of
prisoners captured by the Germans
now amount to 10000 and the num-
Der of guns 600, the German official
statement says.
French, English and American regi-
ments which were brought up from the
thrown back on Chaulny, the official
statement adds.
Ham and PerOnne have fallen, the
German official statement, which was
received here by wireless, says.
Claim Reserves RepuIsed.
Berlin, March 25.-Victory in the
battle which has been raging near
Monchy, Cambria, st. Quentin and La
Fere is claimed for the German army
In the headquarters statement. The
British third and fourth armies and
parts of Franco-American reserves
which have ben brought up are de-
clared to have been beaten and to
have been repulSed with the heaviest
losses on the line from Baupaume TO
Bouchevesnes and behind the SOmme
between PerOnne and Ham, as well as
at Chaulny.
Report Battle Won.
The text OF the statement reads:
western war theater-The battle
near MOnchy, Cambria st. Quentin
and La Fere has been won. The Brit
ish third and fourth armies and por-
uons of Franco American reserves who
had been brought up were beaten and
on the line of Bapaume, Bouchevesnes
and behind the Somme between Per.
onne and Ham, as well as at Chaulny
We're repulsed with the heaviest losses
''The army Of General Won BueloW
(Otto) took by storm Money height
and south thereof carried forward the
attack in a westerly direction beyond
Manancourt and Henin. 1t now is en-.
gagged IN fight northwest of Ra