Norwich bulletin., 1918-03-25

progress, but the latest reports showed little or no change in the situation in favor of the enemy since yesterday, while on the other hand the defenders had pushed the attacking forces back after bitter struggle and were hold ing strongly along the whole new front to which they had withdrawn.
 Desperate Fighting in Progress.
 Fighting of a most desperate nature has been in progress since tbe initial attack, but so far the British have used few troops other than those which were holding the front lines. These shock troops have been making as gallant defense as was ever record ed in the annals of the British army and as a result they have enabled the main body of the forces to fall back deliberately and without confusion and occupy positions which had been pre- pared long before the German offensive began.
 Foe Hurlina Hordes Into Fray. The Germans, on the other hand, op- erating under the eyes of the emperor and the crown prince. have been hurl- | ing vast hordes into the fray with utter disregard for life and have fol- lowed into the abandoned positions.
 
 their supplies and finding their com munications increasingly difficult.
 More. than fifty German divisions have already been identified by actual !, contact and many of these men were simply given two days iron rations and sent over the top into the frightful maelstrom made by the allies artillery machine guns and rifles. The slaugh ter of the enemy infantry as it ad- vanced in close formation over the open has been appalling.
 British Losses Within Bounds Ex. pected.
 The British losses have been within the bounds expected, due to the tao. tics of the commanders. The alliei hay lost a considerable number of mel in prisoners and certain number O guns. But very few pieces of artiller: have been taken by the Germans sine the first day. In fact the whole with drawal has been executed in master ly manner, showing how thorough. the British had planned for the yer, events which have occurred.
 It is permitted to say now wha some have known for a long time namely, that the British never intend ed to try to hold the forward position in this region if the Germans attacke in the force expected.
 There is every reason to believe tha ) harder fighting than has yet take place will develop shortly. The Ger mans, in the British view, cannot nov } hesitate in carrying on their attacl and it is a case of break through c } admit defeat.
 Offensive One of Desperation.
 In this circumstance it is interestin 5 to note statement made yesterday b l a German officer, a prisoner who de clared that the German offensive wa 3 an act. of desperation brought on b Q the fact that the F'atherland must hay ]. peace.
 s However, the British take such. as s sertions at their face value mad al e proceeding accordingly.
 Q The hardest fighting yesterday oc e cured east of Peronne and in the Bo
 de Genlis. The most important phas 0 lof the battle occurred in the lattt s lneighborhpod. During the morning u = Germans had pushed southward tow e ard Ham and had succeeded in gettir e a foothold at some points in the d. $ lenses to which the British had falie l. back.
 ], Germans Forced to Give Way.
 The British organized a counte IS attack and hurled themselves again n the Germans with such ferocity tn y the enemy was forced to give way al l. the situation was restored. This W; :, one of the very few counter attacks Iyet attempted by the British. l. Last night was fairly quiet aloY ,I the battle front, but this morning u British again surged forward again the Germans to the southeast of Hal
 while the enemy continued his assaul
 ia the neighborhood of Mory, soutl e west of Croisilles