Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-03-27

IhOlI CoiPSeo dS Jhey SLOWLY press lor
ward.
The battle undoubtedly has not yet
reached its crucial stage.
Hindenburg is striving desperately
to break through-now here, now
there--unmindful of the huge gaps
torn in his massed ranks by the Brit
ish guns.
The German storm troops are so
thick the gaps close automatically,
like holes in soft dough.
simultaneously with lunges in the
direction of Albert, the most furious
attacks are being flung southwestward
against a line through Rosieries and
the ST. Gobian forest, curving outward
toward Royc and Noyon.
| Between the last two named, as
sault follows assault in rapid success
! sion.
(Haig has admitted the capture of
Roye and Noyon since Simms dis
patch was filed)
The French and British are forcing
the enemy to pay dearly for every inch
of ground Nelse was taken only after
furious combats, the French resorting
! to bayonets, grenades and knives,
lighting body to body in death lock.
Much the same scenes have been en-
acted by the British at Gerauvillers,
Montauban and else
where, withdrawing only when order
ed, or sticking until the last man, fight
ing like wild cats until overcome by
sheer weight of numbers.
German spies continue to spread
lpanic among civilians. Refugees from
lone village alarmed the people in the
next with the most absurd rumors,
(which become as facts five miles away.
Warnings have been issued against
,Munchausen tales. Civilians have been
asked to turn over suspects to the au-
Iithorities.
Inevitably, refugees are war s most
Ipitiful speetacles. The military has en-
their exodus, owing to the
enemy shelling and bombing towns far
behind the lines. The refugees are CIV
en- every possible aid.
At the time Simms dispatch was fill
ed, the Germans were within three
miles of Albert, pressing in upon the
city from three points-the northeast,
east and southwest.
The British evidently were still
holding Pozieres ridge where a pre-
vious dispatch from Simms mentioned
strong machine gun emplacements, but
their left at this point had been bent
sharply back to Ovilleres, which is
three miles northeast of Albert, just
north of the main Albert -Bapaume
highway.
On the east the enemy has reached
Mammetz about four miles from AL
bert on the Albert Combles highway.
To the southeast, the Germans are
before Bray, located on the Somme,
five miles from Albert.
Bapaume is about twelve miles north
east of Albert. Warlencourt is two
and q hilf miles southwest of Bapaume
Lesars is one and a half miles south
west of Warlencourt, Courcellette is
between Albert and Bapaume;
Montauban is three miles west of
Combles; Longueval is three miles
northwest of Combles and Flers is one
and q half miles north of Longueval.
The next big city in the line of the
German advance is Amiens, Is miles
southwest of Albert, on a eontinua-
ton of the main Albert -Bapaume high
way. AHlenS Is OF HllleS hoIIh OIL ar
is, on the Somme, and marks the high |
tide of the German invasion in 1914
at this point Amiens is a city of about
100000 population and is an import
ant manufacturing and transportation
center.
Rosieres, mentioned as the point
against which a heavy assault is being |
directed, is thirteen miles south of AL I
bert. Roye is nine miles south of Ro- /
sieres, while Noyon is 10 miles south 1
If Roye. Nelse is eight miles north
vest of Rove.