The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-03-23
FOE ADVANCE 1.
FALLS SHORT
OF PROSPECT
Military Experts Say Gain Of
Germans Far Less Than
Expected
AIMED TO REGAIN LOSSES
Sudden Blow Was Meant to Pc
\ store the Former linden
burg Line
AIMED TO REGAIN LOSSES
(BY ASSOCIATED PRESS)

(BY ASSOCIATED PRESS)
In battle that has riva1led
in ferocity any that has proceed
ed it during three and a half
years of warfare, the British, on
a fifty mile front, have withstood
a great German offensive in its
initial stages. At some points
the British line has been bent
back, but not as much as had
been expected by military ex-
perts acquainted with the forces
the Germans had brought up and
the pEves': Of the guns they have
upon and behind the line.
As the result Of the struggle
on that part of the front just
west of Cambria, where the fight
ing was apparently hottest, the
British line has nowhere been
broken and Field Marshal Haig's
men have inflicted frightful cas-
lalties on the enemy.
Berlin Claims $1,000 Prisoners
AS an indication of the sangui-
nary nature Of the fighting The
Berlin foreign office states that
10000 men and 200 guns have
been captured. This may be COM
pared = TO the British losses in
the German counter offensive of
December 4, 1917, when 5000
men and 100 guns were captured.
\ Tue first reports of infantry tight
ing were indicative of an attempt on
the part OF the Germans to drive
wedges into both sides of the Cambria
salient, isolate the British troops fur
ther east and regain the Hindenburg
line, from which they were driven
on November %, 1917, by General
Byng's sudden blow. Subsequent dis
patches have proved that this was, in
deed, the plan Of the German general
staff: The fighting on the rest Of the
figty mile front was but side issue
to the terrific onslaught aimed al
Gauche wood and Lagnicourt, the
south and north, bases Of the salient
British Withdraw SIig Chilly
There is no data upon which it is
possible to estimate the success at.
tanned by the Germans to the south,
but names Of towns where the armies
were battling on Friday show that on
the northern side of the salient the
Germans bent the British line back
about two and half miles. It was
reported that St. Ledger was the
scene Of hard struggle and that Dol
gn1es had been retaken by the British.
These points are about four MILL
metres or 2.4S miles. back of the Brit.
ish lines as they stood before the at
tack began. Berlin claims that the
British first line positions from Arras
to La Fere were captured .
All Strength Of Huns Used
The concentration of men and ar
tillery on the British front, as shown
in official reports, demonstrates t','t
the Germans are making determIH
ed effort to smash the British front |
Forty divisions, or about 100000 Teu
ionic troops are in the fight. Tho
total number Of cannon the Germans
ire employing cannot be estimated, !
0ut unofficial reports say that there !
we're 1000 guns on one small sector |
AUSTRIAN and Bulgarian troops have !
made their appearance on the British |
'front.'.
Kaiser and Hindenburq Watch
The attack was launched under the !
aEes OF Emperor William. Field Mar
sal Eon Hindenhurg and General |
LuGenf,CrF. the three Guiding spirit |
ri the Geruau var naGhine The |
fTeU@h report fighting il various sec
toTs. especially in E'nz.npaign ana /
LsfFaErle. -- .r--
-HgssfIiries arg rot limited to- the
ifont in France. nut the Italian battle |
Inc is beginning 10 show signs OF ac- !
thrifty beyond the ordinary. An ATS |
Esian attack IN tie FrerzeEa vaIley |
vas. checked by the Italians after An |
adyanced post had been taken The
Frenzels river fl consuent Of the .
Brenta and drive there would b.
Tor Ire ou-rose Of gaining q tcotholi !
on a road 20 the pains OF northern
Italy.
The Germans, continuing their I'D
vance in southern Russia, have cap
t,lred the city Of 0chrskov, 81 miles
northeast Of Odessa. The Germans
ere also continuing their invasion fur
Their north. Chaotic conditions are re-
ported in northern Russia where the
people are fleeing az beat they may
from the invading Toutsns.
| GERMAN II