The Colorado statesman., 1918-03-30

the struggle. They are reported as
fighting shoulder to shoulder" with
the French and British in the region
of Roye. en- the south side of the sal
lent driven into the allied front.
British airmen continue to give
strong help 20 the infantry and artil-
lery, and the latest statement reports
that they accounted for sixty-seven
enemy machines, forty-five of which
were shot down. The British loss was
ten. Entente aviators also have
b. mbed Cologne and railway stations
behind the battle line, as well as aer-
ojromes and billets.
With the slackening of the German
pace there are indications that the al
| lies are ready to strike back some
where along the front. Just where this
blow will be launched will not be
known until it is struck, but 1t may be
expected that its impact will be ter
rifle.
London, March 26.-"Fighting OF
the most severe description has been
taking place all day on wide fronts
south of Peronne and south and north
of Bapaume," said Field Marshal
Haig's report from British headquar-
ters in France last night. "ln both
sectors the enemy has attacked our
positions in great strength with fresh
forces, and, in spite of the gallant re-
sistance of our troops, has forced US
to give ground. German troops are IN
Nesle and Bapaume. Heavy fighting
| continues"
Battling for every point of vantage,
giving ground only when overwhelmed
by numbers, and exacting frightfui
toll of lives for every foot of ground
abandoned, the British line in Picardy
is still intact. While the German on
slaught gained ground at a number
of points on Monday, there was no
sign of disintegration in the British
| forces, which at many points, espe-
cially on the northern end of the long
line of battle, are standing firm. The
German official report tells of the de-
feat of the British and their retreat
via Ypres and Sally This would
seem to indicate heavy fighting far T.
/ the north of the Somme battlefield,
of which no British report has spoken.
l
ly south of Bapaume and eastward OF
this place is town known as Ytres.
1t is probable that these were the
| points referred to in the statement
from Berlin.
Military observers discern in the
scheme of the German attack a repe-
tition of the German "pincer" system
of attack, which was used by Won
Mackensen n Russia, Rumania and
Serbia. This attack consists of two
attacks some distance apart, which
after progressing to some depth turn
toward each other, compelling the
forces caught between them to fall
back or be in danger of capture.
The British have foreseen this dan
ger and have met it by first checking,
then forcing the northern jaw of the
pincer southwark, while they have
dropped back on the center and have
not fallen into the German trap.
The pressure of the defenders of the
Somme front seems to be bending
back the whole German attack to the
south, where it is hoped it's force will
be dissipated.
The French positions Joined the
British to the south of st. Quentin, but
there have been no reports showing
that the French have fallen back from
their advanced positions. On the 9th
er hand, reports would indicate that
the original French lines now virtual.
ly outflank the advancing Germans
along the Disc river
The largest gains made by the Ger
mans have been west of st. Quentin,
where they have captured Nesle and
Guiscard These points, which are al
the tip of the Teutonic attack, are
more than ten miles from the front
as it stood March 81. when the battle
opened
The fall of Bapaume in the early
hours Monday was blow to the Brit
ish, but it was the result of determin-
alton to fall back slowly all along the
line that is being attacked. Official
reports state that repeated heavy at
tacks oIo13apaume were beaten off by
the British, who also forced the Ger
mans back across the Somme at a
number of points, only to fall back
when the safe retreat of the main body
of the army had been assured.
In message to Field Marshal Haig
David Lloyd George, the British pre-
mier, says that the men necessary to
replace those lost are either now in
France or already on their way. All
guns will be replaced and still further
reinforcements of men and guns ready
to enter the battle.