The circle banner., 1918-04-19
HOLD POSITIONS
TO THE LAST MAN.
THIS is INJUNCTION OF GENERAL
HAlG TO BRITISH SOL
DIERs IN BATTLE.
FIGHT WITH BACKS TO WALL
Retirement Before Hun Assaults Must
Be Stopped.-French Troops Are
Being Rushed to Assistance
of Engiishmen.
FIGHT WITH BACKS TO WALL
APRIL 12.-

Great Britain's armies stand at bay
In France and Flanders. After three
weeks of combat which has eclipsed
anything that has ragged during the en-
tire four years of warfare, Field Mar
shal Haig has issued command to
his men TO hold their ground at what
ever cost and fight with the knowl-
edge that their blows are struck for
1.-The safety of their homes and the
freedom of mankind"
The end of the first phase of this
giant struggle now may be considered
as passed. There must be no retire
ment," is Haig's admonition. which
adds that the British now are fighting
with their back to the wall" The
withdrawal in Picardy was officially
reported to have been q part of the al
lied strategy, but the period for such
tactics seemingly has gone into his
tory.
The order issued by the field mar
shal contains another sentence which
may be pregnant with significance.
THE French army is moving rapidly
and in great force to our support" he !
said. and this is the first official inti |
nation that the allies are ready to |
strike back at the German invaders. |
This blow may be aimed at some part |
of the line where Generalissimo Foch
may believe he can cut through the
German front and compel the Teu-
tons to relax their pressure against
the British.
The Battle Line.
The allies stand today on front
which has been dented and battered,
but which is very strong throughout.
Tracing this line from the south 1t is
found to leave the old battle front at
Braucourt west of Laon. From this
point it runs to the west. passes south
of Courcy- eChateau and curves north
until it. reaches the Oise river, which
it follows until it reaches a point
south of Noyon. Here the line crosses
over some high hills and runs just
north of west to Mesnil, west of Mont
didier, where it turns to the north.
This line is continued as far as Castel,
where it turns northeast to Hangard
and then by a crooked line through !
Albert to point east of Hebuterne. +,
Here the line runs off to the north
easel through Bucquoy and Boisleux !.
TO Fampoux, east of Arras.
At this point it turns north to be-
yond Lens and then turns sharply to !,
the northwest past Bethune, entering !.
the scene of the most bitter fighting. =
1t continues as far as Merville, which
marks the farthest advance of the
Germans in their present offensive
operation, and then bends TO the north
east to Passchendaele, north and east
Of Ypres. Here it curves to the north
west to Merckem and thence north G
over the lowlands of Belgium to Nieu
port to the sea.
SavageIy Resist Huns.
he fighting during the last day, but
Ill along the line from just north of pl
lens to Hollebeck southeast of Ypres n
here have been tremendous attacks al
which have been met by savage resis- et
ance The hardest fighting along this in
ront seems to have centered about til
dessines ridge, for which the Germans ia
md British have struggled hand to sc
land At last reports the Germans In
Ield the eastern half of the ridge while m
he British were in control Of the gs
western slope. hi
This sector has seen the only in ar
antry fighting of the last day, but m
of the Bray-Corbie road, We
outh of Albert and north of the ga
omme, may foreshadow another blow iu
here. Hangard. too, has been heavily to
helled by the Germans.
Quiet on Other Fronts. n
One the other fronts reports show
My usual trench operations.
The Turks and Germans have been
ttacking the British lines north of HI
ericho since April 10, and entered
ritish positions both east and west
f the Jordan, but London says they
ere driven out by a counter attack.