The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-04-01
Lines Restored in Many
Places by Vicious Coun-
ter Attacks
u. S. ENGINEERS
IN HEROIC BAND
Part of Hastily Gathered
Force That Closed Gap
In the Line

British Army headquarters IN
France, Sunday. March s1.-The last
twenty-four hours continued un-
favorable to the aggressive Germans
along the British section OF the new
battle, front and was q atrtkingly good
period for the defenders. This morn
ing. the British were holding their
entire line with strength and they
had smashed numerous heavy Ger
man attacks at various points and
had taken the initiative at several
places successfully.
The most intense fighting continu-
ed south OF the somme in the zone
where the French have been making
such a gallant stand. The outstand-
ing feature of the conflict on the
northern end az the front is that the
British again have killed q great
number OF the enemy which, despite
its harsh sound. is what will end the
war.
Today the British initiated a for
ward movement about Feuchy copse,
east Of Arras. They launched local
attack at o'clock this morning and
pressed it 80 vigorously that they
reclaimed a stretch OF territory 1900
yards long and averaging about 200
yards in depth. This success had
tactical advantages, but they were
small compared with the fact that
the British were able, after the past
Ten DAYS OF EruelltnE work, to under
take an offensive operation.
British FLAG Over MoreuiI.
South OF the Eomme, where there
has been so much hard flghting, the
British appear TO have the situation
well in hand and the town hall OF
tMoreuil. about which sanguinary
struggles have been awaying, was at
last reports stiIl flying the British
Tag defiantly from the steeple. One
Of the most costly attacks the enemy
attempted yesterday was between
More1ancourt and the Somme where
a heavy assault was made against
the Australians shortly after midday.
The attackers came forward in
masses and the British threw them.
selves against the advancing lines so
ferceIy that the Germans were hurled
back. leaving 5000 dead.
The British operation at Ilassigny
farm south OF Hebuterne. between
Albert and Arras yesterday afternoon
which resulted in Strengthening the
defending line. was q brilliant sue
cess. The Germans were pushed
back with heavy casualties and Brit
ish troops returned with 200 prison.
ers. forty machine gums and a trench
mortar South of Arras the enemy
made two attacks yesterday One
was near HamelincouRt astride the
Arras- -Bapaume railway, while the
other was north OF Boisleux St. Mare. |
Both OF these efforts were smash |
ca although particularly hard fght- |
ing occurred around Boisleux, In
this operation the Germans advanced !
i'm great numbers after an intense |
bombardment OF the British lines for /
two hours. At three places the enemy /
succeeded In penetrating the defenses /
and a bitter hand-to- hand struggle |
ensued. The British made such |
strenuous resistance that the GeT- /
mans were thrown back, leaving |
Northeast Of Arras the Germans
made a small attack Saturday after /
a heavy bombardmeut. and pushed /
forward over a tiny strip Of ground, i
but the operation was so small as to i
be hardly worth considering,
There was an unconf1rmed report 4
today that g large concentration Of 4
Germans In preparation for an attack
on a certain place on the battle front 4
had been caught in an artillery and
q machine gun barrage and complete
lv knocked out.
The results OF the lighting on the
British front south OF the Somme
during the past two days have been
satisfactory. Heavy German attacks
On both sides Of the Luce river forced
the British To fall back somewhat.
Friday night the enemy pushed for
ward and penetrated n large wood
northeast of Moreuil. which created
an uncomfortable situation for the
defenders.
Restore The Positions.
Saturday the British decided to at
TEMPT To restore the lines. and
cavalry was sent out for the purpose
of clearing the wood and re-estab-
fishing the positions north Of Moreuil.
There was not a hitch in the program,