Norwich bulletin., 1918-03-28

The strength of the great German Ufensive in France apparently 1 tast diminishing On the seventh day or the titanic battle there were strong m dications that the enemy was feenng materially the strain he had under gone and that his power had oeeAl greatly impaired through hard usage While the town of Albert slas been captured from the British and west of Rove the French have been compelled 10 give ground in the face Of greatly superior numbers. the British have re- pulsed heavy attacks, both north ana south of the Somme, and also driven hack across the Ancre river the Ger rnans who forded the stream Wednes- dav. The fighting still continues Of sanzuinary character on all these sec tors but everywhere the British and French are holding the enemy. Espe- cisliv severe has been the fighting west Of Albert. where the Germans in an endeavor to debouch westward were rspulsed by Field Marshal Haigs men with tn eheaviest casualties.
 The British gains between the Sonme and Ancre regions are repre- sented by the recapture of the towns of Melancourt and Chipiliy. Soutn or the somme they have advanced to FTONATL. Bray.
 Towns and Villages Wrecked.
 All along the fifty mile front from inc region of Arras to the south of inc Oise near Noyon the effedSs of what was to have been the final stroke to end the war in a victory for the Teutons' are only too plainly evident in the re-devastation of the country side and the wreck and ruin of the towns. villages and hamlets through which the armies have passed.
 Westward from where the old battle line reared itself the Germans every where have pushed forward for mate rial gains. but with foes before them who fought with the greatest bravery and stubbornness and ceded no ground unless recompensed at usurious rates in men killed, wounded or made pris- ouer. It is estimated that in the great attacks delivered in mass formation more than 400, 900 of the nearly mil lion men the Germans threw into tht fray are dead wounded or in the hands of their foes Where soon verdan spring is to burst forth over the blast ed territory, the hills. plains and val leyse of Picardy are red with German blood.
 Greatest Point of Advance 25 Miles
 About twenty five miles represents .he greatest point of penetration made at any place by the enemy in his ad vance and on the northern and south ern ends of the big salient he has lief his Hanks dangerously open to counter attacks which. if successful possibl. might result in retreat greater thai the 1916 retrograde movement of Vol Hindenburg and nullify in it's entiret. the drive that has been accomplished IL Is not improbable that British an' French reserves, and possibly Ameri can troops, known to be behind tn battle front, soon will be throw against the weakened enemy.
 Allies Give Good Account.
 Notwithstanding the strength of tn German drive, nowhere has the Britis or French front, along the latter c which American troops have given rood account of their ability as fight CTS. been even dented. Ground ha been given, it is true, but so skilfull and with such precision of movemer that from north to south a surveyc could scarcely have worked out a mor even line. still intact in the hand of the allied forces are portions of th old line from which Hindenburg fe hack in his strategic" retirement 1916.
 Just who is in command of the Gel man forces seems to be somewhat doubt. Late despatches report tn; Field Marshal Won Hindenburg hs been at Dvinek. in the Russian thes Ire. and German war correspondent assert that General Won Ludendor not only planned the offensive but VI on the ground last Friday personal to control the attacks.
 On the other battle fronts the opera tions continue of a minor characte but daily the situation in Italy giv' greater indications that an offensi' against the Italians is in prospec
 Teutonie Allies Lose Odessa.
 Tn Russia the situation again attrac attention by reason of the fact tn Ukranians and the Bolsheviki have r captured Odessa from the Teutonic a lies. and in addition now hold the in portant towns of NilColayev, Kherst and ZmananlSa. Reports also have that the Cossack General Kornilof troops have been surrounded by t BoIsheviki.