The state herald., 1918-03-29
FRIoHTFUL TOLL ENACTED FROM
GERMANS AS HAIe LINE is RE.
TIRED TO NEW POSITION.
HAlG BENDS BACK FOE
NEsLE AND oUiscARp TAKEN
BApAUME LOST As ALLIED
ARMIES WITHDRAW.
Newspaper Union News Service.

"e'Ns'h ANeWspap'f bhtoH NeWh ccrNtco.
London. March 26.-"Fighting o.
the most severe description has been
taking place all day on wide fronts
south Of Peronne and south and north
OF Bapaume," said Field Marshal
Haig's report from British hsadQuar-
tsrs in France last night. "In both
sectors the enemy has attacked our
positions In great strength with fresh
forces, and, In spite of the gallant re-
sistance of our troops, has forced Us
to give ground. GermGn troops are m
Nesle and Bapaume. Heavy fighting
continues" -
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
u otill intact. While the German on
slaught gained ground at a number
Of points on Monday, there was no
sign Of disintegration In the British
forces. which at many points. espe-
cially on the northern end Of the long
line Of battle. arc standing firm. The
German official report tells Of the do
feat Of the British and their retreat
via Ypros and Sally" This would
seem to indicate heavy fighting far to
the north Of the Somme battlefield.
Of which no British report has spoken.
There is. however. town called Sail.
ly south Of Bapaume and eastward Of
this place is town known as Ytres.
It is probable that these were the
points referred to In the statement
from Berlin.
Military observers discern in the
scheme Of tho German attack a repe-
tition Of the German 'pincer" system
Of attack. which was used by Won
Mackensen N Russia. Rumania and
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 fall
back or be In danger Of capture.
The British have foreseen this dan
ger and have met It by first checking.
then forcing the northern jaw Of the
pincer southwark. while they have
dropped back on the center and have
not fallen into the German trap.
The pressure Of the defenders Of the
6omme front seems to be bending
back the whole German attack to the
south. where II 10 hoped it, force will
b dissipated.
The French positions Joined the
British to the south Of 81. Quentin. but
there have been no reports showing
that the French have fallen back from
their advanced positions, On the 9TH
or hand. reports would Indicate that
the original French lines now virtual
ly outflank the advancing Germans
along the Oise river.
In the meantime. the British strats-
~ seems to be devoted to the task OF
meeting the attack so that II Is direct
ID no longer straight at the line. but Is
diverted toward the Oise, where the
German advance has been most rapid.
French troops have taken over SEQ
tors Of the front and have released
British units for work farther north.
Berlin states that Americans have also
jonied In the fighting. but nothing has
~ yet been officially reported on this
point.
The largest gains made by the Ger.
mans have been west Of 81. Quentin,
whore they have captured Nesle and
0uiscard. These points. which are at
the tip Of the Teutonic attnck, are
more than ten miles from the front
a. II stood March 81. when the battle
opened.
The fall Of Bapaume In tho early
hours Monday was blow to the Brit.
ish. but II was the result Of dotermin.
alton to fall back slowly all along the
line that II being attacked. Official
reports state that repeated heavy at.
tacks on Bapaume were beaten off By
the British. who also forced the Ger.
mans back across the Somme At q
number Of points. only 10 fall back
when tho safe retreat Of the main body
Of the army had been assured.
Berlin claims that $4,000 prisoners
have been taken.
In = message TO Field Marshal Haiy
David Lloyd George. tho British pre-.
mier. says that tho men necessary TO
replace those lost are either now In
France or already on their way. All
guns will be replaced and still further
rsinforcemcnts OF mon and guns rcady
10 enter tho battle.
-
Huns uoe Two Mystery 0una.