Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-03-30
SATURDAY. 49,. MARCH 80, 1918
TEXT or OFFICIAL STATEMENTS

TEXT or OFFICIAL STATEMENTS
London. March 23.-Following are
tho Official statements of the fighting
on the western front:
German (n:ghD --rhc first stage
OF the great battle in France is end.
cd. We have won the engagements
near monchy. Cambria, ST. Qucnt II
and La Fcrc. A considerable part of
the English army is beaten.
We are fighting approximately on
line northeast OF Bapaumc. Pcronne
and Ham.
of the Emperor and King the battle
of attack against the British front
near Arras, Cambrai. ST. Quentin has
been proceeding two days. Yesterday
also good progress was made.
Divisions Of Crown Prince Rup.
prccht stormed the heights north and
northwest of CroiSillcs. Between Fon
tainc-les-Croisillcs and Moeuvres they
penetrated into the second enemy 20
sliion and captured the villages Sit
uatcd there OF VauiX-Vraucourt and
Morchics. Strong British counterat-
lacks failed.
Between Councillor and the Omig--
non stream the first two enemy po--
sitions were penetrated. The heights
west Of Gouzeacourt. Heudicourt and
Eillers"Faucon were captured and
in the valley of the Cologne stream
Roisel and MarquaiX were stormcd.
The fighting around Epchy heights
was bitter. These heights being en-
circlcd from the north and south the
enemy was compelled 10 leave them
for our troops. Between Epchy and
Roiscl the enemy vanly cndcavored
by means Of strong counterattaclls
to bring our orously advancing
troops to Il standstill. He was driven
back everywhere with tho heaviest
lcsscs.
GERMANS BEFORE THIRD
ENEMY POSITIONS.
This heights north of Vermand were
Stormed. We stand before the third
enemy position. Under the effect OF
this success the enemy evacuated his
positions III the bend southwest of
Cambria. We pursued him through
Dem!court. Flcsqucres and Ribccourt.
Between "ht Omignon stream ana
the S"mmc corps Of the army grour
or the German Crown Prince after
the capture Of the first enemy posi-
tons made their way through IIolnon
Wood and fought across the heights
OF SaVy and Roupy, pcnetrating into
the third enemy position. South Of
Somme divisions broke through the
enemy lines and III an uninterrupted
forward movement drove the enemy
over the Crozct Canal toward the
west. Jaeger battalonS forced Il eros
sing OF the Disc west OF La Fcrc In
company with diviisions following,
they stormed the heights northwest
of the town which are crowned with
tho permanent works OF La Fere.
me captures so far reported by
the army group OF Crown Prince Rup
prccht are $4,000 prisoners and $50
guns; by the army group OF the Ger
man Crown Prince, 10000 prisoners,
$50 guns and 800 machine guns
Artillery battles continue boz wccn
the Lys and La Bassee Canal, on both
sides OF Rheims, before Vcrdun and
in Lorraine.
British (nighD-The battle is con
tinuing with the greatest intensity
Oh the whole front south of the Scnrpe
River. South and west OF ST. Quen-
tin our troops have taken up their
new positions and we are heavily ell
gagged with the enemy.
EltlTISH ADMIT BREAK. IN
DEFENSIVE SYSTEM.
British day Heavy fighting con
tlnucd until late hours last night on
the whole battle front. During the
afternoon powerful hostile attacks. de
lVered with great weight Of infantry
ana artillery, broke through our de
lenSiVc system west Of st. Quentin.
our troops on this part of the battle
front are falling back in good order
across the devastated area to prepare
positions further west. On the north
ern portion OF The battle front they
are holding their positions.
Very heavy fighting with fresh hos
tile forces is in progress
French tday)-An intermittent
bombardmcnt of considerable violence
was carried out against our front I'M
cS and positions in the rear north of
Inc Chemn DIES DANES, in the region
OF ltheimS and in Lorraine. An enc
my raid cast Of Loivre was without
success. There were patrol cncount
ers north OF Hill 3i4 (Vcrdun front.)
In the Woevrc, in the region of Blem
cray, the Germans made an attack
which was dispersed 10y the French
fire. They suffered considerable loss
es and left prisoners in our hands.