Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-28
OFFICIAL REPORTS
DESCRIBE BATTLE
British Statement Shows Hun
Gains Made Yesterday
Were Negligible.
HAIG'S LINE FIRMLY HELD
Germans Tell of Albert Cap
turc and Slowly Progress
ing Somne Attack.
HAIG'S LINE FIRMLY HELD
rRy Associated Press. ]

livcrcd a countcrattack to-day be-
tween the angle of the Ancre and the
Somme and recaptured Morlancourt
and Chipilly. the War Office announced
this evening.
The French have been heavily en-
gagged west OF Roye. and were forced
TO give ground. the announcement,
states. Re-enforcemcnts for them arc
arriving.
An enemy attack in the neighbor-
hood Of Bucquoy has so far made no
impression upon the British lines.
a number of other heavy attacks
both north and south of the Sommc.
were rcpulsed with heavy loss to the
Germans. The cncny's. troops are IN
Albert.
The Germans crossed the Ancre yes
tc-day afternoon. but were counter
attacked and driven back across the
river.
BRITISH AGAIN ADVANCE
LINE SOUTH OF sOM,iE
The British have again advanced
their line south of the Somae to
Proyart.
The text Of the War Office announce
mcnt reads.
During the night our troops were
pressed back Il short distance on both
banks OF the Sommc. and early this
morning were holding the line ap-
proNinately. OF Hoi5ercs, Harbonnicrcs.
Sa!lly-lc-Scc. Mericourt r.Abbe. thence
up to the railway cInbanl;ment south
west OF Albert. The enemy is in
Albert
"At one time Yesterday afternoon
the cncmy crossed the Ancre near
Mesnil. north Of Albert but was coun-
terat.ackcd and driven back across the
river. North OF this point there IS
no change in our position.
This morning our troops counter
attacked north Of the Sommc. between
the angle Of the Ancrc and the Sommc.
and recaptured Morlancourt and Chip
!lly AT the same time our troops
Immediately south OF the river again
advanced our line TO Proyart.
The enemy has attacked in the
nciehborhood OF Bucquoy. 4 fresh
guard division has been brought up
with this object. but Up to the present
this attack has made no impression.
HEAVY ATTACKS MADE BOTH
NORTH AND SOUTH OF SOMNIE
n number OF Other heavy attacks
were made to-day on our front, both
north and south OF the Sommc. The
latest Information IS that the enemy
has been repulsed with heavy loss
West Of Royc the French have
been heavily engaged and have been
forced TO give some ground. But re-
endorsements arc arriving"
The report from Field Marshal Haig
tonight declares that in these opera
tons heavy casualties have been in
hicted on tho enemy.
Tho tex; OF the statement reads:
The battle was renewed this morn
ing with great violence south and
north OF the Sommc. Intense fighting
has taken place during the day from
south of Rosieres TO north Of Ablain-
Vile (Ablain Sevcl!eJ.
AN unsuccessful attempt made by
the enemy las; night TO drive in our
line south OF the Sommc was followed
this morning by series O: heavy
attack in the ncighborhood of Ro-
sicres and 10 the south OF that place.
y: Rosiercs all the cncmy's assaults
have been beaten off by our troops.
Further north our line was MAIN
taincd through the earlier part OF the
day in spite OF great pressure from
large hostile forces.
OUNTERATTACKS SEND
ENEMY LINES BACK
Later in the day a fresh German
attack developed in this area. with
the result that our line was taken
back a short distance TO the west
Later reports show that our counter
attacks have again completely restored
the situation.
During the day the enemy made
number of determined attacks against
our positions between the Somme and
the Ancrc and north and south of
Albert; Fierce fighting has taken place
in this sector also.
Part Of our position to the south
Of Albert into which the enemy at
one time forced his way. was rcgained
by Us by countcrattack, and a fur
thcr heavy attack delivered by the
enemy at this point during the after
noon was complctcly rcpuIscd.
ATTEMPTS made by the enemy In
the course of the day to dcbouch west
ward from the town OF Albert have
been drivca back in each instance with
the heaviest casualties.
This afternoon also tho enemy at
tackled In great strength in tho neigh
borhood of Bucquoy and Ablainville
and gained q footing In the latter viii
lagc. At all other points his infantry
has been beaten off with great loss
Our troops have again fought mag
niiiccntly. and. as shown in the above
account, have to-day thrown back the
n a l,n I.rit ti>.I,
heavy losses In spite of most bitter
and determined attacks and his su-
pcriority In numbers. Heavy lighting
still continues on the whole battle
front"
BERLIN REFERS TO "SIOWLY