Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-25

reports showed little OF no change in
the situation in favor OF the enemy.
while. on the other hand, the defenders
hal pushed the attacking forces back
after bitter struggle. and were hold
ing strongly along the holo new
front to which they had withdrawn.
Fighting OF d more general ma
ture has been continuous since the
initial attack. but so far the British
have used few troops other than those
which were holding the from; lines.
as gallant defense as was ever
recorded in tho annals Of the British
army, and as result thoy have en-
abled the main body o: tho forces 10
fall back deliberately and without con-
fusion and occupy positions which had
been prepared long before the Ger
man offensive began.
The Germans. on the other hani op.
Grating under the eyes of the Emperor
and the crown prince. have been hurl-
ing vast hordes into the fray, with
utter disregard for life. and have fol-
lowed into the abandoned positions
getting farther and farther away from
their supplies ana finding their com
munications increasingly difficult.
More than nifty German divisions al
ready have been identified by actual
contact. and many of these men wtrc
simply given two days iron ratiorS and
sent over the top into the frighltui
maelstrom made by the allied artil-
lcry, machine guns and rifles. The
slaughter OF the enemy infantry as IL
advanced iii close formation over the
open has been appalling.
BRITISH LOSSES NOT
GREATER THAN ENPECTED
The British losses have been within
the bounds expected due to the tao
tics Of the commanders. The a!lics,
have lost considerable number o.
men in prisoners and certain mum
her OF guns. Bu; very few pieces Of
ARTILLERY have been taken by the Ger
mans since the first day. IN Fact. th.
whole withdrawal has been executed in
a mastery manner. showing how
''"' p"S't'N 'he fiIllNh H3u planned fUl
the very events which have occurred
II is permitted TO say now that The
British never intended to try TO rnll
INC forward positions il the Germans
attacked in the force expected
There is every reason t. be'iey, ,h,t
harder fighting than han yet taken
place viii develop shortly. The GER
mans, in the British view, cannot now
~ ta in,
and 1t ia case OF break through or
aomit defeat. In this circumstance IL
Is interesting to note a statement made
yesterday by German officer. pris-
oner, who declared that tho German
OFFENSIVE was an act OF desperation,
brought on by the fact that tho Faith.
crland must have peace
The hardest fighting resterd,y ~,
CURED cast OF Peronne. and in The
hois de -Genlis. The most impor,an,
p""Se oil the battle occurred in the
after heiGhborhood During the morn
"e me Gcrnans had pushed south
"''d toward Ham. and had succeeded
~ Sc'''hs 4 ioothold at some points
IN the defense 20 which the Brj,isb
mad fallen back
"' n'''iSh organized counterat-
'aek and hurled themselves araine. tho
Germans with such fcrocity tina; Tho
enemy was forced 10 give way ana
INC situation was restored This was
Que OF inc very few countcrattacks AS
!ct attempted by the British.
Last night was fairly quiet a,o,p
me battle front. but this mornin. no
hrit'sh again surgcd forward aro;ns,
INC Germans TO the southeast O. Ham
Nhi'e the enemy continued his a.
Sauiis IN tho ncirhborhood Of Norv
southwest Of Crois!lles.