The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1918-03-28
HUNS PINCH Off
SMALL PIECES
BUT ARE NET WITH AN INFERNO
OF FIRE.
ALBERT REPORTED CAPTURED
City Probably Evacuated BY the Brit
ish to Secure Stronger Position.
Gen. Won Blotnitz of German
Army Killed in Action.


BY William Phillip Simms, With the
British Armies in the Field March 81.
The British Nare holding the lines
west of Albert and are fighting for
every inch according to the latest re.
ports received here at noon as | am
cabling this report.
The British apparently retired lit.
tie to the west of the town yesterday.
(Thiss Is the First news of retire
mentE or the British forces from the
city Of Albert where Haig's official re.
port announced fighting to the north
ana northeast With the situation I'M
changed) 1t may have been evacuated
to secure stronger positions.
British Now Have Advantage.
Now that the fighting is taken place
across the old Somme battle front,
the offensive will undoubtedly offer
some good advantages to the British,
as they have splendid communication
lines behind them.
The fighting is the heaviest between
the converge of the Ancre and the
Somme rivers. 1t is the hottest around
Meanlte south of Albert where Haig
has one division holding its own.
German Patrol Captured.
During the day few attempts were
made by the enemy against the
British at Anchor north of Albert
while northwest of Colincamps an
entire German patrol was made pris-
oner.
The enemy is reported to be heavilx
Smelling the lines near HameI and
Beaumont
iemitirne Falls to Enemy.
This afternoon the report that they
were in Hermitirne was confirmed as
was rnmor that the German armor-
ed cars were advancing,
This morning the enemy was attack
ing in the Aveluy Woods north OF
Albert while still further north the
situation was unchanged. save an at
tack by the enemy west of Arras.
What Reports Indicate.
(Simm's cable as TO the above would
indicate that the British after retiring
from Albert are making an attempt
to stand southwest of the city between
the Ancre and the Somme. Between
Albert and Bray to the south the
rivers are about five miles apart then
10 the west they gradually converge
and join just fifteen miles southwest
of Albert. This region is high and
heavily wooded)
Haig Admits Retirement.
London. March 2I-"Furthe: local
fighting northeast of Albert" as re.
ported by Field Marshal Haig in his
official war office statement from the
British front this morning. The situa-
ton there is unchanged" he continued
in the neighborhood of Bray as a
afternoon astride the Somme our fore
es were forced to fall back short
distance
Enemy Sustains Great Loss
South of the Somme heavy enemy
attacks last night against our lines
were repulsed after severe fighting
with heavy and severe losses to the
enemy
AT one point in this neighborhood
the enemy forces succeeded in pene-
trating our lines but their forces were
soon thrown back by heavy coun-
ter attack"
Hard Fighting Again Today.
BY William Phillip Simms with the
British Armies in the field March q.
As the battle RACES today, the Brit
ish forces are holding the gates to Al
bert determined against the attempts
of the Teutons to capture them.
Crucial Stage Yet to Come.
Along the Pozieres Ridge, astride
the Somme, across the obliterated val
ley OF the Ovilleres, Warlencourt Lc-
sars, Longneval, Mount Auban and
p Mametza the Germans are strewing
licorpses and are slowly pressing for
ward. The battle undoubtedly has not
as yet reached its crucial stage.
Hun General Killed in Action
London, March 27.-General Won
Blotnitz. commander in chief of one
of the German divisions attacking ST.
Quentin was Killed in action Friday &C.
cording to dispatches received here
today from German sources.
Reserves Ready for Invaders
Amsterdam. March a. The allies
are holding strong reserves south of
the penetrated front. swsitlitNg for an
attack on the German troops from the