The sun., 1918-03-31
B0CHES BEATEN
BACK IN DRIVE
AT VIMY RIDGE
Moved Down i'm Large
Numbers as They Attack
in Close Formation.
FEW GAINS RETAINED
Guns of British Are Turned
Around to Repcl Enemy
Who Gained Rear.
FEW GAINS RETAINED
by PERRY ROBINSON.
Special Gable Despatch TO tbs SrN from the
London Times.

NY FEHHN RUBIN SUM
Special cable Dcspdtch TO tbs SrS from the
london Times.
Copyright. 1915: all ri0hfs veserred.
1oNpoS. March 20 tdelayed) There
was no material change In our position
during the last twenty-four hours.
South Of the Somme we have fallen
back again. but not under conditions to
cause any encouragement. Elsewhere
in spite OF incessant thrusting by the
enemy and at least one attempt to ad
vance in strength We have beaten him
back.
The chief operation was on the e1-
IRENE left battle front along the Scarpe,
where fighting was in progress yester-
day. We know now from prisoners that
the combined attacks here on two sides
of the river were a determined attempt
to capture Arras. II completely failed.
Above the Scarpe the attack extended
IA north to Willerval. and II successful
would have restored to the enemy
possession OF a great part OF Vimy
ridge.
We still hold our positions east OF
Bailleur. which point at the south end OF
the ridge subsidies gently into the plain.
and down this slope our machine gyms
lines Of Germans attempting TO advance
across the open from Opsv S0eSvslo~ In
this open slope the Germana attempting
to advance n the usual dense formation.
were cut down N uh6S0Mtx1sA7 HamOeA
Makes One Snail Gain.
The only gain made by the enemy Was
the ruins Of Roeux. not an integral part
OF our defences but in advance Of them.
I'm ", NO
1t was to the south OF the river that
the most serious weight of the attack
was thrown. Here the Germans en-
| poycd at least two whole divisions and
, parts OF others, the chief element OF at
tack being the Twelfth Division. pr's-
oners Of which say they were sent def
/ nitey as shock troops TO break their way
| to Arras. They had not come far.
I How little progress the enemy has
made here really is shown by the fact
that his line was already $500 yards
! from Neuvile-Nitasse on the evening OF
! March %. Six days since then he has
lost many dead for every yard or gain.
| Immediately below here the day passed
! in comparative quiet, the German effort
evidently being concentrated on the fu-
tile attack on Arras further south.
| Along the Ancre confused fighting
continues. There was time when II
|
were going to obtain an apprec,able ad-
vantage. They had forced their way
TO high ground. but were splendidly
driven of. Beyond here at the wood
known as the Nightingale or Rossignol
wood, tho enemy at one time forced an
| entrance. only to be driven out. The
wood remains in our hands. In all this
area along the Ancre and the railway
line around Albert our line remains
firm.
Below the Somme We have fallen
back again to positions at Marceleave,
Hamel Meizie,e and PleaAers. The
numerical superiority Of the Germans
here continues great Yesterday the
Germans crossed the river In the neigh
borhood Of Chippilly Celisy. They placed
themselves in the rear OF our troops
which were holding tho Poyart section
Of this line.
Not only were they In rear OF our
infantry here but also han intercepted a
number Of guns. and for moment the
situation looked serious Our mer
facing the rear gallantly charged the
enemy. drove him back into the river
and held his much superior force
penned there TIL all our guns got away
almost directly to the rear at point
blank range on the advancing Germans
Great Work by Gunners.
Our gunners have been performing
miracles throughout. I heard "A tale TO-
day Of one battery of horse artiller,
which, cut of by the advance In tn,
first day OF battle. was lost to its uni
for three whole days. During that tim,
1t had the most amazing experiences
mostly in the rear of the German line.
and generally in action. Somehow aftel
three days it turned up fighting as hare
as ever to help a quite foreign but hare
pressed unit in whose company 1t fount
itself. and all Its guns were still goinl
strong.
1t Is characteristic OF the fighting o
the last week that one OF the most das ash
ing operations was made In the form o
counter attack by a scratch fore
organized by ali artillery officer ant
composed Of miscellaneous units. sucl
az battalions engaged In road work an,
units engaged In signals In the evacuated
regions. Their legitimate occupation
! gone, this semi-irregular force ha
already earned no small reputation an,
> has done useful work supporting regu
} lar troops which have been fighting TO
, long time
, At one stage Of the battle when tn
pressure Of the German forces was enor
: nous 1t was absolutely necessary to Civ
a certain unit a rest 1t could not move
Another unit was appealed to and tn
commanding officer said his men wer
, pretty nearly done. but might have
two miles march yet in them. As tn
, other troops had none at all the me
I with two miles left were sent In ono
4 more and went. as the commanding OF
ficers said. with tails above thei
heads"