Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-04-03

be expected that its impact VIII De
terrific
1t is officially reported that 40 Ger
man divisions, or $4,000 men, have
taken part in the fighting, and that
troops have been moved from every
part of the western battle front to re-
enforce the armies which have been
forcing the British to fall back.
Observers at the front say, that the
German losses have been frlghttui,
and that the enemy has lost from lo
TO 20 per cent of his men, by the
most conservative estimates.
British Smash Attack.
British Army Headquarters IN
France, March 27.-There is reason 10
believe important events will be re-
corded within the next few hours
which may lead to betterment OF the
position of the armies which are STEM
ming the German onslaught. The enc
my is fighting desperately hard against
time. On the first day his reserves
we're reduced to 80 divisions AT the
end of the second day some ~ ul-
visions from the reserves had been put
in. A heavy German attack about III
villers was completely smashed by the
British artillery fire.
Germans Lose 45o, 1000.
Washington, March 27.-Calcula-
tions based on the number of troops
employed and the methods ny when
they have been employed, lead experts
to estimate the German losses at ap-
proximately $4,000 men daily since
| last Tuesday This would mean Ger
man casualties of 100000 to date.
British lnfict Heavy Losses.
| London, March 26.-Battling for
every point of vantage, giving ground
only when overwhelmed by numbers
and exacting "a frightful toll of lives
for every foot of ground abandoned
| the British line in Picardy is still in
tact
While the German onslaught gained
/ ground at a number of points on Mon
! day, there was no sign Of disintegra-
ton in the British forces, which at
many points, especially on the north
ern end of the long line of battle, are
standing firm.
The largest gains made by the Ger
mans have been west of st. Quentin,
where they have captured Nesle ana
| Guiscard.
Military observers discern in the
scheme of the German attack a repetl-
ton of the German ''pincer' system
of attack, which was used by Won
Mackensen in Russia, Roumania ana
Serbia. This attack consists OF TWO
attacks some distance apart, which,
after progressing to some depth, turn
toward each other, compelling the
forces caught between them to fail
back or be in danger of capture.
EIude German Trap.
The British have foreseen the dan
ger and have met it by first checking,
then forcing the northern jaw of the
pincer southwark, while they nave
not fallen into the German trap. The
pressure of the defenders of the
Somme front seems to be bending the
whole German attack TO the SOUTH
where it is hoped its force will be dis
sipated.
"Fighting of the most severe
description has been taking place al
dav on wide fronts south of Peronne
and south and north of Bapaume,'
saws Field Marshal Haig's report from
British headquarters in France.
Inflict Heavy Losses on Foe.
"During the morning of March p oul
troons on the front from the Sommt
as far north as Wancourt had beateI
off continuous and heavy attacks will
complete success.
'Heavy losses have been inflicted OF
the enemy by our artillery and machine
, guns. while our Iow-fying airplanes re
: neatedIv attacked the enemy's advanc
ing columns farther to the rear.
The day communication states tina
l the British drove back to the easter
hank of the Somme bodies of German
troons which had crossed the river be
, tween Licourt and Brie, south of Pc
rome. and repulsed powerful attack
of the afternoon northward of Ba
paume.
: Report Fror Berlin.
Berlin, March 26.-"Between tn
Somme and the Oise," says the off1cia
report from headquarters, "our troop
are fighting their way forward"
l There was hard fighting" the state
ment continues, between Bapaum
i and Peronne. We drove. the enem
L back here to his old positions, whic
were held between the Ancre and tn
Somme before the beginning of tn
- Somme battle in 1916
Bapaume was captured in mgf
= fighting.
= In the evening Nesle was taken b
storm. the statement adds. British
. Americans and French were throw
= back through painless wooded coul
{. A