The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-03-28
Germans Open Great Attack on
the British but Fail to
Break Through.
LOSSES ARE TREMENDOUS
Haia's Men Retire to Prepared Line Of
Defsnses Along the 6omme-Ameri-
cans and French Support Them
Paris ShelIed by New Gun
Of Immense Range.
BY &. w. PICKARD.

quarter OF a million or more Ger
mans killed and wounded; the Brit
ish forces pushed back from nine to
fifteen miles between MOnchy and La
Fere over the ground which the Ger
mans abandoned and devastated many
months ago, but still keeping unbroken
their lines along previously prepared
positions on the SOmme. These, at the
end Of the week, were the net results
Of the kuiser's great spring drive.
which began Thursday morning as ad-
ycrlised.
Despite The loss OF ground aud esti-
mated casualties OF 100000 among the
British the allies and the United
States had no cause to be respondent.
for the Hun had so far failed Of his
purpose, which was to smash the Brit
ish armies. break through their lines
und make the battle decisive. II in
the subsequent fighting his success Is
not fur greater than ii has been to the
time Of writing 1t may truly be assert
ed that he has met tremendous de
feat
Starting out with bombardment
hitherto unequaled, the Germans hurl-
ed themselves against the British de
lenses In wave after wave Of troops
In close formation, and with such TAR
gets the British machine gunners and
tihcmen moved them down by the thou
sands until they were fairly wearied
with killing But with at least 100000
men engaged the Germans were en-
ablcd to MI the gaps In their ranks and
Kept moving forward, though much
more slowly than their schedule of op-
pralions called for. IIaigs men fighting
calmly, fell back Ia good order, their
slaughtered and keeping them fresh by
frequent shifts Their retirement had
been fOreseen and though their first
line OF defenses was abandoned, the
enemy by Saturday night had broken
through the second line at only two
points aud the third line was consld-
cred impregnable.
Emperor William himself was in
crown prince, Won Hindenburg and La.
dendorft, and he sent to his wife a
jubilant telegram making claims OF
victory not at all justified by the facts
In truth, what the Germans had ac-
compished by Saturday night was no
more than they accomplished IN the
first two days Of their great attack on
Nerdun, and as then they had paid
most dearly for such success ms they
iad achieved. This may be considered
tactical success Of some magnitude.
but it is not strategic victory.
Though there is no excuse for pesSlm-
ism the situation Is serious enough 10
wake up America and arouse her 10
the necessity Of haste
While the terrific combat was going
On news came that American troops
had been brought up from the south
west and tOg, her with French forces,
we're aiding the British in making their
frequent counter-attacks. These Amer
teams, II Was believed in Washington,
were part Of the reserve forces that
had been put at the disposal OF the
supreme war council for emergencies
A. this time nothing has been made
public as 10 their numbers or what
units are included
Ma
Ii -
great battle was the Smelling Of Psri,
10y gun Or guns VI q range hithprt,
considered impossible. The proieculei
began falling Ia the city aud its sub
urbs Saturday al regular intervals an,
steps we're taken NJ once 10 locate tn
super guns. Later II was announces
~-~-~-~~~-~-~~.~4~-~.~