Evening star., 1918-08-28
Huns Fighting Desperately
to Stay SUif British Driue
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE. Tuesday. August 81 (mid-
nigh).-Driven from the high ground
protecting Peronne on the west and
forced beyond the Hindenburg line in
the region of Arras the Germans are
fighting desperately, but apparently
with much confusion, to stay the
British attacks in the region of Ba-
paume.
Since noon today heavy reinforce
ments ave been put into the enemy
line in the Bapaume region. and his
resistance there has stifrened. Ap-
parently the use of these reinforce
ments is for the purpose of giving the
enemy time to dig in on a line parallel
ing the Canal du Nord on the west.
Whether he will be able to hold this
line is very doubtful. His next de-
fense line east would. be behind the
Canal du Nord. about six miles east OF
Bapaume.
Push Foe Off High Ground.
Along the Somme. in spite of stub
born resistance. the British have
pushed the Germans OFF the high
ground between Maricourt and the
river. South of the river they have
Peronne. North of Maricourt the Ger
mans made vicious counter attacks
this evening. and the British had to
give up some of the ground they had
gained during the day. >
The greatest British advance of the
day was made south Of the Scarpe.
Gen. Byng's men are reported work
ing east of Vis-en-Artois and at last
reports had gained Fontaine-les-
Croisilles, south of Vis-en-Artois.
Between Fontaine and BapauIne tho
British took ground near Vraucourt.
A heavy enemy counter attack de-
yeloped and, as the position was a
little in advance of the rest of the
line at this point, the British fell back
temporarily. They brought with
men as prisoners.
Germans Suffer in Attack.
The same thing happened in the
neighborhood of Flers, south of Ba-
paume, where seventy prisoners were
brought back by patrols which re-
tired when the enemy threw in a
heavy counter attack. The German
attack suffered severely from British
willie wood c.Devil WOODY was taken
by the British and then lost. II is
reported it has been captured again.
Elements of sixteen enemy bat
talions have been found mixed up on
a front of less than four miles near
Bapaume
North Of the. Scarpe considerable
progress has been made and the Brit
ish are reported driving eastward
from Oppy and Gavrelle, which they
hold.
Retake Ammunition Dumps.
The British have recaptured large
dumps of ammunition which they left
behind last spring and which the Ger
mans had not touched. They also
have taken immense stores OF Ger
man material
The British ammunition came in
very handy and saved a lot of trans
port. as it offered bullets and shells
when they were needed. Large en-
gineer dumps, which are most useful
in clearing the battlefield in the wake
Of the advancing armies, also have
been captured.
On the center of the battle front the
fighting IS raging with greatly In
creased violence. The Germans are
reported to be digging in along a
line the general direction of which
may be reckoned as starting at the
north bank of the Somme, to the rear
of Guillsmont and then northeast
through Ginchy. It is believed the
enemy intends to make a desperate
stand on this line.
Once driven from this line the next
logical place for a strong stand would