Connecticut western news., 1918-04-11
GERMAN Gains AT
A FRICHTFUL COST
British Positions on Somme Be-
tween Bapaume and Peronne
Virtually OutfIanked.
ENGLAND IS RUSHING AID.
Enemy Hurting Mass on Mass, With
Utter Disregard of the Human Sac
rifice-Attacking in Immense
Strength, Crosses Somme.

London.-Battling for every point of
vantage, giving ground only when over
whelmed by numbers and exacting a
frightful toll of lives for every foot of
ground abandoned, the British line in
Picardy Is still intact. While the Ger
man onslaughts gained ground at q
number of points, there was no sign Of
disintegration in the British forces,
which at many points, especially on
the northern end of the long line Of
battle, are holding firm.
The largest gains made by the Ger
mans have been southwest of st. Quen-
tin, where they have captured Ba-
passae, Nesle and Guiscard. These
points, which are at the tip of the Teu-
tonic attack, are more than ten miles
from the front as it stood on March q.
Military observers discern in the
German scheme q repetition of the
German 'pincer'' system of attack,
which was used by Won Mackensen in
Russia, Roumania and Servta. This
attack consists of two assaults some
distance apart, which, after progress
ing O certain depth, turn toward each
other, compelling the forces caught be-
tween them to fall back or be captured.
The British have foreseen this dan
ger and have met it by first checking,
then forcing the northern jaw of the
pincers southwark, while they have
dropped back on the center and have
mot fallen into the German trap.
While the German wedge is still
moving, it's progress is not alarmingly
rapid, as it was in the first rush of the
| Teutonic hordes. The yielding line, 1t
Is asserted, has absorbed the impetus
of the shock and has weathered the
storm remarkably well. Berlin says
that $4,000 prisoners have been taken,
but admits that the Teutonic casual
ties before Peronne were Compare
lively heavy"
The French positions Joined the
British to the south of st. Quentin,
but there have been no reports show
ing that the French have fallen back
from their advanced positions. On
the other hand, reports would indicate
that the original French lines now
virtually outfank the advancing Ger
mans along the Disc river.
In the meantime the British strategy
seems to be devoted to the task of
meeting the attack so that 1t La d.
rected no longer straight at the line,
the German advance has been most
rapid.
French troops have taken over sec
tors Of the front and have released
British units for work farther north.
Berlin states that Americans also have
joined in the fighting, and London re-
ports the presence Of American engi-
neers.
The loss of Bapaume was blow to
the British, but it was the result of a
determination to fall back slowly all
along the line that is being attacked.
Official reports state that repeated
heavy assaults on Bapaume were beat
en- off by the British, who also forced
the Germans back across the Somme
at number of points, only to fall back
when the safe retreat of the main body
of the army had been assured.
The following cable came to Field
Marshal Haig from President Wilson
MAY not express to you my warm
admiration for the steadfastness and
valor with which your troops have
withstood the German onset and the
perfect confidence all Americans feel
that you will win a secure and final
victory?"
The Kaiser visited Peronne. He has
ordered Germany to celebrate the VIC
tory.