The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-03-26

edly attacked the enemy's advancing
columns further to the rear.
"a heavy attack delivered by fresh
troops in the afternoon enabled them
to make progress west and southwest
of Bapaume in the direction Of CIur
celette. South of Peronne our troops
have been pressed back in several
places slightly west of the SCmme.
while further south the enemy has
succeeded in making some progress
and has capturede Nesle and Guis-
card
French reinforcements are arrfV
ing in this neighborhood
Our troops, although tired. are in
good heart and are fighting splendid
ly, and the enemy is only progressing
at the cost of heavy sacrifices. Our
losses III material have been heavy
and include a certain number of
tanks"
Reuters headquarters correspond
ent sends the following on the great
battle in France"
With scarcely lull and no abate-
ment in intensity the titanic struggle
continues. The enemy artillery
shows a tendency to decrease in vol
ume, doubtless owing to the increas-
Ing difficulty of bringing guns for
ward. The manner in which our
guns. tanks and transports have been
withdrawn behind the obstinately re-
firing line amounts to a marvellous
feat.
after falling back across the Som
me we cleared all the bridges except
one, which was so commanded by our
gunfire that it was more advantageous
to leave it standing. The enemy
casualties in his efforts to get across
this narrow strip of water have been
prodigious."
Fresh attacks by the Germans had
developed northward and southwark
of Bapaume, the war office announced.
The British repulsed powerful at 'acks
nortrhward Of Bapaume. The British
drove back to the eastern bank of the
Somme bodies of German troops
which had crossed the river between
Licourt and Brie, south of Peronne.
The British are counter attacking
between Nesle and Ham, Reuters cor
respondent at British headquarters
reports. The French also were in
action.
North of Bapaume. he states. the
Germans were attacking in consider
able force at dawn, but did not get
through the British barrage.
The Germans, says the correspond
are relying upon sheer weight OF
numbers in their heavy attacks On
the British lines, relieving thei- tiret
troops by fresh divisions which press
forward without waiting for artillery
support.
American Engineers in Conflict.
British Army Headquarters in
France, March 26.-American engin-
GERS have again been in the throes
Of fierce conflict, in which they have
done excellent work in transportation.
The presence of the American en-
gineers on the battlefront has long
been known. They were praised
highly for their gallantry in the bat
tie of Cambria last fall.
The spearhead of the German effort
Is still directed against the old Som
me battle ground The British troops
have been falling back slowly upon
new positions under tremendous pres
sure, destroying everything which
might be useful to the Germans.
The Germans have been pushing
forward by sheer weight OF numbers
~~ith the assistance Of little al tiiiery.
In the region between Bapaume and
Peronne the British fell back again
somewhat in the fighting late on Sun
day. This marked the main success
of the enemy, whose progress is being
"'':'tested bitterly step by step.