The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-03-28

London March 2S-The fighting continues fierceIy
on both banks of the SOmme the British office
nOunceS
This morning the enemy opened heavy lombard
men the British defenses east Of Arras An attack is
developing in this sector
Repeated attacks were made by the enemy along the
valley of the SOmme in the neighbOrhOOd of Beaumont
Hamel PuisieuX and MOyennevIe They were repused
The statement follows:
Severe fighting took place again yesterday evening
and during the night astride the SOmme and nOrthward
from Albert to BOyelIes Repeated attacks were made
by the enemy along the valley OF the SOmme, and in the
neighbOrhOOd of BeaumOnt-Hamme, PuisieuX and MOy-
ennevie They repulsed. We captured number
of prisoners and number of machine guns.
"The fighting is continuing fiercey on both banks
of the SOmme.
"This morning the enemy opened heavy lombard
ment defense east of Arras and attack is de-
velOping in this sector
The reference in the official British statement to an
attack east Of Arras evidently that the Germans
have wdened their battle front and delivering
stroke the north The battle was begun last week on
front extending as far north as the river Scarpe the
junction of which with the battle line almost due east
of Arras. No fighting north of the river has been re-
ported.
The attacks which are developing today may mark
the beginning of the second phase of the battle German
military writers IN the last few days have been limiting
that surprises in store for the British and there has
been much discussion of the possibility of German drive
for the coast with the channel ports of Calais and Dun
kirk as the ODJectVeS.
Paris, March 28-Bocked on the Lassigny and
Noyon fronts and the left bank Of the Ose the Ger
mans last night threw forward important forces in the
region of Mont Dider the war office announced today
Here the fighting rapidly took extraordinary ferocity
French regiments fought hand-to-hand with the en-
emy and inflicted heavy losses. Finally the French fell
back to tha heights Immediately to the west Of Mont
Didier
Fighting was continued with violence yesterday eve
ming and last night the battle 'front.' the war office
nounced.
The text reads: "The battle was fought with sus-
tanned violence yesterday evening and last night. The
Germans blocked by the valiant French troops and cruelty
punished before the Lasgny and Nyon fronts and the
left bank of the river Oise concentrated all their eff
forts on the French left, and threw forward important
forces in the region of Mont Dider.
"At this point the engagements soon developed an
unheard of ferocty French regiments fighting hand
tohand inflicted heavy losses upon their assaants and
did not faer. Finally they withdrew in order to the
heights Immediately to the west Of Mont Didier
There has been intermittent cannonading on the re-
mainder Of the front"
On the southern flank the French have held the Ger
man advance west Of Noyon At Lassigny northwest of
Noyon after heavy fighting the French have retired
slightly toward Mont Ddier being overwhelmed by SUI
perior numbers.
The notes of pessimism in the published statements
of German leaders since they failed to break through and
roll up one side of the British line are added to by the re-
cent German official statement the latest one of which
saws that the German attack is Slowly progressing"