Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-04-03
HA|G'S MEN WIN
ALL-DAY BATTLE
WITH GERMANS
Huns RepuIsed With Heavy
LosseS-Foe Aims at Arras.
FRENCH HURL ENEMY BACK
Paris Says Petain's Troops Advanced
on Front of Six Miles and to
Depth of over One Mile
Enemy Captures Montdidier
100000 Americans May
Be Used in Fight.

London, March 29.-After an aIl-day
battle north and south of the Scarpe,
with Arras as the chief center. the
British forces have beaten off the Ger.
mans, with heavy losses to the enemy
| according TO the report from Field
Marshal Haig
French Hurl Foe Back.
Paris, March 29.-On the front from
Lassigny to Noyon our troops have adj
vanced over line about ten kilome-
tiers (slightly over six mllesl long to
| a depth of two kilometers tone and
one-fifth miles). says the war Office
statement issued. The repulse of the
Germans in villages further west also
is announced
100000 U. S. Troops Ready.
Washington, March 29.-Not fewer
than 100000 American troops, it is be-
lieved by military experts here. are
ready to take their place in the battle
line in France to withstand the Ger
man attack or to assist in a counter
attack. General March said he had no
such information.
Huns Take Montdidier.
With the French Armies in France,
March 29.-Fresh German troops were
thrown against the French army main
tanning the junction between the
French and British lines, and nOtwith-
standing the determined stand made
by the French they were forced to re-
tire toward the west, the Germans
breaking through at Montdidier and
occupying that place.
Farther south the French held well,
resisting all the German efforts.
In the rear of the French army the
movements were so intense that it was
impossible to approach the firing line.
Battle Is Stabilized.
Notwithstanding the continued adj
vance Of the Germans, the battle has
become more or less stabilized in the
last two days
The French are pushing northward
In order to keep in close touch with
the British, who had been forced back
by overwhelming numbers.
French troops have relieved part of
the British line
Nothing as yet has been allowed to
| develop regarding the intentions of the
entente allied commanders, but it is
certain that at an Opportune moment
they will make n commensurate.
German Plan Rehearsed.
The general idea of the battle as far
as 1t has gone shows that the Germans
chose to make their principal attack
against the British front. At the same
time they made a demonstration just
where the two armies. French and
British, join.
The Germans succeeded in making a
breach in the British line, which the
French forces closed first sending cav
airy to fill the gap. The Germans had
carefully prepared for this offensive
whole divisions and army corps re-
hearsing the parts they were to play
when the moment came.
Just before the assault the British
lines were deuged with shells for a
short period and with projectiles
charged with noxious gases.
Huns Attack in Waves.
Then came thick waves of infantry,
closely following one another. The
first waves or what remained of them,
reached their detectives and held on
until further waves came along and
cleaned up the islets of British. who
were holding out with obstinacy, using
for that purpose jets of liquid fame.
Re-enforcements joined the Ger
mans, and from the captured first Brit
ish line a murderous fire with rifles.
machine guns and automatics was
opened on the rear lines of the British.
Reserves oVerpowered
This rain of death was so deadly as
to overpower the British reserves, who
could not see whence it came and were
unable TO advance TO the assistance of
their comrades in the first line, owing
to the severity of this fire
Under cover of this hail of bullets
the German waves Of infantry made
their way into the second British line.
The Germans lay down when they had
advanced for some distance a4d al
lowed still other waves to pass through
the intervals.
French Hurl Foe Back
London. March 29.-French troops
counter-attacked with great dash and
drove back the enemy on front Of
ten kilometers (slightly over six
miles) to a depth of three kilometers
(almost two mileSl southwark of
Noyon.
The French pressure on the enemy
is continuing.
This announcement was made In
British official summary of the siua-
ton issued here.
The summary adds that the Ger
mans entered Montdidier.
Left Flank Falls Back.
The Germans effected crossing of
the Somme near Chlptlly. compelling
the British left flank south of the river
TO fall back.
South of the Somme the Germans
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