The sun., 1918-03-31
C0RPSES STREW
ROAD TO ARRAS
German Shock Troops Suffer
Terrific Losses in Des-
peratc Attack.
WELLS ARE POLLUTED
Wrcckage of Battle Leaves
Captured French Villages
Scarcely Tcnable.
WELLS ARE POLLUTED
speciaI Gable Despdfch TO THE srS.


Copyright 1918 all riohts yeser,ed
LONDON. March so.--Ft0htfno north
and south Of the Somme Rirer, Uith a
forts TO take A,Tns. tcithout thought of
the cost IN Hrss. Is described IN a dcs.
patch to the Daily Express as folloirS:
~ PERCIvAL PHILLIPS.
BRITISH ARMY HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE. March 90 tdelayed).--Germa
masses are maintaining steady pressure
against the British right south OF the
Somme. BY crossing the Somme from
Chipilly to Cerisy the enemy succeeded
in winning about 1000 yards q the Brit
ish rear line. but his troops were blocked
until all Of our guns we're FomoysA.
when We settled down upon q fresh line
further west Of this position.
This morning the Germans were still
bringing up guns and fresh divisions, but
the great attack has not yet materialized.
There are concentrations OF the enemy
in considerable strength to-day around
Guiilaucourt. on the Amens-Nesle rail-
way. a short distance behind the present
front. Between the Ancre and the
Somne the position is unchanged. From
the Ancre to Beaumonthamcl no action
of Importance was reported this morn
ing Between Beaumonthamel and Ar
ras II il quiet to-day after hard fighting
Yesterday southeast OF the latter place
and also around DucQuoy and Ayete the
situation was one of comparative calm
obviously due to the German prepara-
=, f0- hA ,hnc ~ hn INT In
shock Troops Are Held.
The attack toward Arras yesterda!
was made by number OF German
shock divisions. including the lS4th
North OF the Scarpe River the
Twelfth and Twenty sixth reserve divi
sions. although they succeeded In gain.
ing ground. could not penetrate at the
furthest point nearest the city nearer
than the support trenches OF their old de
fences. which were taken a year ago
Their principal effort was made south
OF the river.
Our observers sa W columns Of German
infantry coming up the Cambria roat
from Nisenartois and debouching ou
upon the MontchylopreuX, the dominan
hill southwest of Arras. which gives 8
sweeping view over city and battlefield
! Rve miles long between the marshe,
OF the Scarpe and Neuville Vitasse I
| was difficult ground. covered as in tn,
| case of the Somme battlefield. with tn,
! assures Of old trenches, craters and tn,
| various obstacles which renain afte
| the British cleared the enemy from tn,
outskirts of Arras.
The German assault divisions coulc
not push rapidly over this broken coun
try and our machine guns punished then
terribly as they stumbled forward. Th'
German barage had been very heavy
Gaps were torn In our entanglements bu
there remained sufficient wire entangle
ments to embarrass the enemy. Prison
ers have told us that Arras was their OBJ
jective. to be attained at all costs. NJ
| other order could have made them per
severe in the face OF such whitening fire
Germans Take Orange Hill.
At great sacrifice the Twelfth Division
obtained a footing upon Orange I'M b.
q o'clock this morning. This inconspic
nous spur. like the greater eminenc
alongside known as Telegraph Hil
gives a good foothold for further opera
tions In either direction. The Gcrman
were bent on capturing them regardless
of casualties The fighting swayed u
and down the RnalloW valley 'front.' an
along the face OF both hills. Eventuall
our troops had to fall back toward
long, narrow. observatory ridge neare
the city.
When these troops were forced bac
II left the flank OF the troops on thei
right exposed. and the latter confOrme
their line by Withdrawing short dis
tance. We continued TO hold tho Arras
! Douai railway line along tho bed Of tn
p, Scarpe. defending 1t successfully agains
repeated attacks. Meanwhile tho Ger
man attack north OF the Scarpe wa
meeting with less success. Some Of tn
bitterest fighting took place in the ruin
Of Roeux. The Germans kent creepin
around OH the north. Although the gar
rison must have killed an enormous nun
ber, the stream appeared to be undimir
ished. Roeux was eventually surrounded
have not been able to secure any In
formation as to the fate Of the battalio
which defended It,
Our front north OF tho Scarpc ha
been bent back from the outskirts {
Gavrelle. Altogether this Is not
Continued on 1soowd Poes.