The Washington herald., 1918-03-27
British Inflict Unspeakable Losses on
Foe During Orderly Withdrawal
Toward Former Positions
French Junction Still Unbroken-
Optimism Prevails With knowledge
That Great Reserve Force Is Ready
for Strategic Counter Blow.

London March 26-As the end Of the sixth day of the
German drive approaches. the allied retirement along the So
mile front between Aas and Noyon reaching the forefod
positions Of the old battle front stood in 1916 before the
Somme battle.
The withdrawal has been effected in good order with
heroic guard fighting that has inflicted unspeakabe losses
In blood upon the Teuons.
The AngoFrench junction remains unbroken The British
line is nowhere pierced
Between Bapame and Peronne violent British comter-a
tacks have been successful in materially retardns the enemys
advance Late tonight the British line there still formed wedge
in the attacking front
The is near all front dispatches indicate when
the great allied strategic army Will be brought play
News to this effect has injected of hopeful optimistic
expectation into the atmosphere both here and Paris.
HUN HURLS WEST TROOPS INTO FRAY
The of movement which broke the trench deadlock with the
dawn of the rst spring day. hourly gaining momentum The Ger
desardng their tremendous losses throwing division after
division. corps after army corps of fresh troops the fray
Their losses have compelled them Hag reported early today
draw troops from all parts of the front.
Tonight the foes drive hitherto confined less local
hus succeeding of the 6me line assuming larger
strategic aspect The directions of his assaults began give his Ob
ives definite shape
His offensive has developed titanic pncer drive aimed at
Amens-nerve of the whole French railway
sysem-and Compiegne. the key to Paris
ROye and Noyon have admittedly fallen the foe The former
of Compegne.
This places the German southern flank fy miles to the north
east of Paris.
To the of NOyOn fierce battle ragged all day. Upon
depends the fate of the French line far Rheims In their
effort NOyOn the Germans trying Ouank that whole line
Paris able officially this afternoon that the French
firmly holding the left bank of the Ose
MORE THAN SEVENTY DIVISIONS ENGAGED.
As the battle when the day communques issued BY
the French British offices,
on the line from Roye to west of NoyOn
More than seventy divisions
engaged, Field Marshal Hag stated in his day bulletin.
The German sedgehammer assaults during
the greater part OF the day against the front from chaunes to NOyOH
twenty mes-n new desperate attempt to throw wedge be-
tween the French and British whose lines join between Chaunes
and Roye, of Nesle
1t too early to that the initial driving of the Ger
advance but four essential heavily
favor of the allies this stage of the battle:
The Germans have suffered terribly breaking
through they forced TO draw from other parts of the
'front.' their infantry far ahead of their guns
muneatons are becoming increasingly difficult for them in the de-
vastated through which their advance passed.
The allies cOrrepondngly shortening their cOmnunica
tions with their bases.
The allies falling back deenscs where
they held firm for years.
The allied strategic FOeh fresh
and untouched eagerly awaiting swing the balance
of battle to the entente side.
ADVANCE TO GREATEST DEPTH OF 4, MILES
this evening
epth of ROye wenyhree miles the drive last
batte and bunted by the French which,
rushed n the side of the Tommies,
oate 10 the north OF bapaume, Aas
the main man objective and where they push be
threatened We flank urged back and FORTH German shock
newly brought % storming forward corpses
fallen comrades Many times they by the
like leaps the British only
inch by inch after theS had exaeted their price.
With the American Amy France, March e6-The first
witness of the drive the British reach
American today by Capt Vin R F. A,
formerly mining in Nevada and California who about
visit America He just arrived from England trayersed the battle
Paris while bombarded the mystery gun
q" heard estimated" Capt Vin told American officers that
every British soldier engaged the front attacked by the Germans
accounted for four Germans.