Republican farmer., 1918-03-29
British Armies Holding
Fast Along Somn1e and
North of Bapaune
DANGER LIES TODAY IN EOYON REGION WHERE
GERMANS HAVE DRIVEN DEEP WEDGE
INTO ALLIED LINE; HERE TERRIFIC
BATTLE is WAGING.
CLAIM $4,000 PRISONERS

CLAIM 45.UUU PRlSONEkS
Berlin, March Is, via London-The Germans now are
standing to the north of the Somme in the middle of the
former Somme battle field says todays official statement
Bapaume captured in night fighting In the evening
Nesle taken by Storm the statement adds British
Americans and French thrown back through path
less wooded country
More than $4,000 prisoners and more than 600 guns
have been captured the statement says Guiscard and
Chauny captured in the evening Violent fighting
developed for possession of Combe and the height west
OF the town. The enemy defeated the statement says
British Army Headquarters in France 25-(By
ISOLATED Press 1.-The British this morning
ing between Nese and Ham. The French also action
North of Bapaume the Germans attacking in cOnSid
cradle force dawn but did get through barage
The Germans relying sheer weight Of numbers in
their heavy attacks the British lines relieving their tired
troops by fresh divisions which press forward without waiting
for artillery support.
The enemy day yesterday and through the moonlight
last night continued hammerng British positions but British
troops resisted with valient stubbornness.
The Germans employing many small bodies of UhIans,
mainly scouting patrols, it is added.
further advance late yesterday by the Germans
points along the battle front is recorded
The spear head of the German effort s directed against
the old Somme battle ground The British troops have
falling back slowly positions under tremendous
sure destroying everything that might be useful the Germans
Hostile airmen active throughout the night bombing
the British communications but showing little inclination to
compete with flying after daylight
American engineers have again been in the throe of fierce
conflict in which they have done excellent work in anpOra
tiOn
France has thrown weight forces into the great
battle raging with unexamped intensity the western front
and the British and French armies battling together
against the onslaught the enemy his desperate at
tempt to break through the Allied line.
The British armies holding fast along the line of the
Somme the region north of Bapaume Field Hag
reports to-day The Germans their thruss in the latter
ton reached British trenches at only point
they Immediately elected Their assaults elsewhere
smohered the British fire with great losses the enemy
the line bodies of German troops which had
ceeded in forcing their the river between Lcourt
and B south Of Peronne driven back to the eastery
bank both sides Bapaume the German attacks
sumed to-day.
greatest danger point present to be farther
south where the Germans apparently have driven through the
greater width of the region they devastated in retiring 1917
las the Paris to-day reports heavy fighting
gon of Noyon This town itself is 10 miles to the west of
Chauny the region Of which Berlin reported yesterday the
repue reserves but the German advance
probably has been met considerably short of Noyon.
The wedge driven into the Allied line is evidently deep,
however, the French troops reported by Paris be
testing the heights to the north of the Disc with important
German The Disc this part of the front south
west past Chauny and passes to the south of Noyon
cavalry in small numbers has been in action but
far used merely harass the British during their
withdrawal.
have been pushing forward by sheer weight
of numbers, with the assistance of little artillery
region between Bapaume and Peronne the British
fell back again somewhat in the fighting late Sunday This
the of the enemy whose progress
tested bitterly step by step.
Early to-day the again hurled great numbers of in
against the British line Ervers but at the latest
the onrusng troops had been unable to force their
through intense artillery barrage which the British main
itained
heavy battle also has been proceeding to-day the Brit
right flank where the enemy had succeeded in forcing his
way the Somme and the canal south of Ham, The Al
lies delivering counter attacks with the purpose of push
ing back the invaders across the waterway.
There small doubt that tn" German attacking troops
dog weary fighting under great strain However, harder
fighting than has yet occurred undoubtedly will follow
British have been fighting with traditional stubborn
and at points they have held the Germans back time
time although they themselves greatly outnumbered
Throughout the night there fierce fighting north of
paume al the BapaumeArras road but except that Moy
again changed hands the defenders held their CALAMITY