Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-04-02
Chronology Of Worlds
Greatest Battle

worlds greatest battle 10 date:
MARCH 21.-The Germans be-
gan their long expected west front
offensive. Berlin claimed to have
penetrated portions of the British
positions between Cambria and La
Fere. London admitted some
ground lost, but emphasized the en-
emy's heavy losses.
MARCH 22.-Hindenburg con-
tinued to push forward at some
points. while the British counter at
tackled and took Doignes, eight
miles east and north of Bapaume,
on the Bapaume-Cambrai highway.
Haig announced the Germans threw
forty divisions 100000 mem into
battle on the first day, and asserted
the enemy losses were terrific.
MARCH 23.--The enemy advanc-
ed to Roupy, north of the Somme,
about four miles southwest of St.
Quentin, and to Jussy, south of the
SOmme, about seven miles west of
the former line. The Germans
claimed to have taken 1000 pris-
oners, 400 cannon and 800 machine
guns. Paris bombardment by mon
ster Hun gun at range Of IA miles.
MARCH 24.-(Palm Sunday.)
The offensive gathered momentum
and swept forward to a depth Of
Is miles. Peronne, Ham and Beth
encourt fell. Berlin claimed $4,000
prisoners and 500 cannon. The
Germans had now retaken about a
third of the territory they lost in
the spring of 1917. Paris again
bombarded by long-range gun.
MARCH 25.-Bapaume, Nesle,
Guiscard and Chauny were lost by
the Franco-British. The heaviest
fighting had shifted five miles.
This marked the first appearance of
the French in the major fighting,
and announcement was made that
American engineer regiments we're
engaged. Berlin now claimed
total of $4,000 prisoners. The Ger
mans continued to lose men at
staggering rate.
MARCH 26.-Roye, Noyon and
Lihons fell. The Germans made
their greatest effort to date north
OF the Somme and pushed forward
to the outskirts of Albert, making
a total advance of IA miles in that
region. Berlin announced that can
non captured totaled 500, besides
Zoe tanks. The German losses so
far were unofficially estimated at
100000.
MARCH 27.-Albert was captur-
ed. but with it's fall the German
westward advance from that place
north was practically stopped. The
offensive began to show signs of
priN
successful counter attacks between
the Somme and the Ancre, recap
turing Morlancourt and Chippy.
South of the Somme, however, Ro-
sieres was invested. At that point
the Germans had advanced about
IS miles from their original battle
line.
MARCH 2S.-(Good Friday The
German crown princes army took
Montdidier, about 80 miles west of
LaFere. This practically marked
the high tide OF the offensive, as
the enemy's efforts to push further
westward at this extreme point have
in the main been frustrated. The
enemy extended the battle front
northward beyond the Scarpe and
entered advanced British positions
east of Arras. Haig's men held
firmly elsewhere. The French
counter attacked between Noyon
and Lassigny, retaking the villages
of Mesnil, st. George, Courtamanche
and Assainvillers. General PERISH
ing conferred with General Foch at
the front, placing the entire Amer
lean expeditionary army force at
Foch's disposal. Paris again bonn
barded.
MARCH 29.-Hindenburg's at
tack continued to slow up, os-
tensibly hindered by the heavy rain
which fell during the night. The
allies gained some ground south of
the Somme, but the Germans push
ed forward slightly toward Amiens.
Foch's appointment as generalissi-
mo of all the allied armies was
semi-officially announced.
MARCH 30.-The Germans be-
gan to dig themselves in at various
points along the battle front. The
attack extended northward again,
this time to the vicinity of Loos.
The heaviest fighting was in the re-
gion OF Montdidier, where the en-
24-mile front from Moreuil south
ward to Montdidier and eastward to
a point beyond Lassigny. Berlin
claimed a further advance around
Montdidier, with the capture of six
small towns.
MARCH 31.-(Easter Sunday
French and British launch brilliant
counter attacks and definitely stop
German forward movement. At
several points both French and
British gained ground and captur-
ed prisoners. Moreuil was recap
tured by the French and the Brit
ish restored their lines south of the
Somme. 1t was officially establish
ed that both Bulgarians and Aus
trians were being employed in the
offensive by the Germans. The big
Iong-range Hun gun again lombard