The Elbert County tribune., 1918-03-29

that the French have fallen back from
their advanced positions. On the 9TH
er hand, reports would indicate that
the original French lines now virtual
ly outflank the advancing Germans
along the Disc river.
In the meantime, the British strate-
BY seems to be devoted to the task OF
meeting the attack so that 1t is direct
ed no longer straight at the line, but is
diverted toward the Disc, where the
German advance has been most rapid
French troops have taken over sec
tors Of the front and have released
British units for work farther north
Berlin states that Americans have also
joined in the fighting. but nothing has
as yet been officially reported on this
point.
The largest gains made by the Ger
mans have been west of St Quentin,
where they have captured Nesle and
Guiscard. These points, which are at
the tip of the Teutonic attack, are
more than ten miles from the front
as 1t stood March 81 when the battle
opened
The fall of Bapaume in the early
hours Monday was blow to the Brit
ish, but it was the result of determin-
ltion to fall back slowly all along the
line that is being attacked. Official
reports state that repeated heavy at
tacks on Bapaume were beaten off by
the British, who also forced the Ger
mans back across the Somme at a
number Of points, only to fall back
when the safe retreat of the main body
of the army had been assured.
Berlin claims that $4,000 prisoners
have been taken.
In a message to Field Marshal Haig
David Lloyd George, the British pre-
mier, says that the men necessary to
replace those lost are either now In
France or already on their way. All
guns will be replaced and still further
reinforcemcnts of men and guns ready
to enter the battle.
London, March 24.-Assaulting the
British lines on the south, the Ger
mans have forced their way forward
over a front approximately twenty
one miles in length, have penetrated
to depth of four or five miles west
of Cambrai and have reached Ham.
west of ST. Quentin, a distance of
about nine miles west of the British
lines as they stood before the incep-
ton of the Teutonic offensive on
Thursday.
With the British Army in France,
March 25.--The British and French
who cooperate at the junction of the
two armies were viewing the trend of
the German offensive with optimistic
eyes Sunday morning. Hard fighting
was in progress but reports showed
little or no change in the situation in
favor of the enemy since Saturday,
while on the other hand the defenders
had pushed the attacking forces back
after a bitter struggle and were hold
ing strongly along the whole new
front to, which they had withdrawn.
Fighting of a most desperate ma
ture has been continuous since the
initial attack Thursday, but so far
the British have used few troops
other than those which were holding
the front lines.
These shock troops have been max
ing as gallant defense as was ever
recorded in the annals of the British
army and as result they have en-
abled the main body of the forces to
fall back deliberately and without
confusion and occupy positions which
had been prepared long before the
German offensive began.
The Germans. on the other hand,
operating under the eyes of the EN-
peror and the crown prince. have
been hurting vast hordes into the fray
with utter disregard for lives and
have followed into the abandoned po-
sitions, getting farther and farther
away from their supplies and finding
their communications increasingly diff
ficult
More than fifty German divisions
already have. been identified by ac-
tual contact, and many of these men
were simply given two days iron ra-
tions and sent over the top into the
frightful maelstrom made by the al
lied artillery, machine guns and rifles.
The slaughter of the enemy infantry
as 1t advanced in close formation
over the open has been appalling.
The British losses have been within
the bounds expected, due to the tao
tics of the commanders. The allies
have lost considerable number of
men in prisoners and certain num-
ber of guns. But very few pieces of
artillery have been taken by the Ger
mans since the first day. In fact, the
whole withdrawal has been executed
in mastery manner. showing how
thoroughly the British had planned for
the very events which have occurred.