Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-27
Losses, Due to Mass Attacks,
Steadily Weakening Germans

8 ~ ns Assselated Prea.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
yzlANCE, March 2e.-The Germans to
ny fox1owed mp their progress Of yes
fegaay 1t Nezle, on the southern bat
- fsout. by launching . terrific as
annRt agAfnst the British along . line
xunning. roughly, between Hattencourt
nnsd ne region OF Roye The British,
ee-opsrating with their French allies,
yero meeting the onslaught doggedly
anA Eallankfy, and . sanguinary strug-
Ne was IN progress this afternoon
Farther north the enemy also de-
veloped . fresh offensive movement. to
the south of Suzanne. which lies little
northeast of Bray-sur-Somme- But the
Germans were pushing with less
strength here than in the southern
theater. possibly for strategncai res-
sons
Fighting on Entire Front.
THESE two sectors were the scene OF
most Important operations today. al
though lighting was In progress as1k
IN the northern sector: about AcnS-
1>-Grand. Iogeast wood and norm
ward, where such desperate ngntInE
uas waged yesterday. the Germans sn strsn aah
~
at q hate hour this forenoon
= mo aires today probably were In pet
vDr condition to contest the German -
vance than they had been since the De-
xauning of ne offensive.
The capture Of Nesle yesterday by inc
uemy was achieved after heavy fighting
, ever a considerable front The Germans
advanced in strength both north ana
south of the town. and by pressing .n s
Ascending lines back in these places
formed a salient from which the aihes
were forced to withdraw, leaving Nesie
in the hands OF the enemy. Heavy ngni.
! ing today in this sector was forecast
by the appearance of new masses OF
troops which the Germans brought up.
ready for another push
Crushed by British Guns
5 The fighting on Sunday and Monday
N the neighborhood OF Ervillers was
most bitter. Throughout Sunday night
mans kept pressing against the stub
boxnfy contending British, who fought
With such desperation against over
vhelming odds that they repealed the on
rushias infantry. After a. e prsar nans
again made a heavy assault between
ErviIlers and the Gomiecourt. and were
caught in the British artillery barrase
md crushed
80 ftfle later the enemy advanced once
8ore and stormed the position with
Guch ferocity that it was feared Ervil-
1ers must go. Fresh British troops were
sent up and carried out an immediate
counter attack. relieving the situation
The enemy. finding the road barred
Through this place. began hammering
hard below Domiecourt, in the region OF
0Apfgnies- The British line south Of
this place had already swung back to
seAe west, and finally it became appar-
sent that it would be policy to withdraw
from Ervillers. Gomiecourt and Sapig-
Mes and straighten out the front This
Was done during the night. the with
Germans Depend on Numbers.
s WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE, March z5.-This has been an
0aher day of the most desperate and
mnguinary fighting along the whole
'front.' of the new battle zone. In tact,
IN the northern sector there has been
30 cessation IN the awful work since
yesterday morning.
The Germans have continued to huri
1reAt forces Of infantry into the con-
s1ct, depending largely on weight OF
sAumbers to overcome the increasing
ADposition offered by the heroically re-
Nkgting British.
On the northern wing of the offensive
NE enemy this morning brought up
additional troops. after an ail-night
zGnuggle of the fiefcest nature. and re-
snewed his efforts to break the British
Sont IN the region Of Ervillefs- To
a&he south. near the center of the line.
- equally strong attempt is being
nrde by the invaders to extend the
Ing, narrow salient which they had
nshed IN south Of Bapaume. near
z nnguevalEfamous in the annals of
~ battle Of the Somme. These places
Fere again the scene OF shambles, in
match the British machine gunners and
sE10emen exActed terrible toll of
sA6afh from the closely pressing enemy.
Mn farther south the Germans were
1nunding the front hard in an en-
1axvor to push on and get q firm grip
IN Nesle and swing the British right
INK back. while the determined de-
1bnfers were battling doggedly to force
s3he enemy back and reclaim the posi-
Mons previously held by them along the
river.
Decision in Allegiance.
The decision at all of these centers is
sDet In allegiance, so far as is known at
skhis time. and the struggle goes on
sHith undated fury. The resistance of
The British right wing has been par
s4lnnlarfy spectacular.
~. ~ IN H. he