Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-27

|, crossing Of the Somme on RATS in the
Nestle sector. but these expedttonary
forces were caught in hail OF artil-
lery. machine gun and rifle IRE and vir-
tually wiped out. Yesterday. however,
the Germans succeeded in getting troops
across in this manner. and followed
these advanced guards up with strong
forces. which pushed on in the neigh
borhood of Morchain. The British were
contesting the enemy advance fiercefy.
and, at the latest reports, were holding
the hard-hitting enemy strongly.
The battle today on the historic
ground about Longueval was perhaps
the most spectacular Of any along the
front. It was a day for machine gun
ners and infantry. The Germans were
pursuing their tactics of working for
ward in massed formation. and the
British rapid fire squads and rif1emen
were reaping a horrid harvest from
their positions on the high ground Not
outstanding their terrible losses, the
Germans kept coming on, filling in the
places of those who had fallen and
pressing their attack. The British ar
tillery in the meantime poured in
perfect rain of shells on the enemy,
carrying havoc into the ranks of the
Germans. In this section the Germans
were operating without the full sup
port of their guns because of their
rapid advance.
Give Up Mory Again
In the north, in the region Of Ervil-
once more to abandon Mory, which had
changed hands several times In the
last few days. They fell back for
short distance. and the battle this
morning was staged largely along the
Bapaume-Arras road. The Germans
employed a large number of divisions
in this assault. which in the early
hours was held Of by the British gun
ners.
For the last four days French
refugees have been streaming back
from the evacuated towns in large num-
bers- Everywhere along the roads lead
ing to the front were to be met old men,
women and children, all trudgfng
Stoica1ly behind their horSe-drawn carts
of household furniture or even packing
backs
1t is possible today to give details OF
that most important phase of the bat
tie fought in the sector between Gou-
here was shrouded in mist Thursday
morning, and the Germans advanced
without being seen. Strong forces of
infantry flung themselves against the
struggle broke through it at several
places. They then continued driving
hard for Templeux, near Hargicourt
Just in front of the former village
were QuarrieS in which the British had
taken up positions. and here battle of
great ferocfty was waged. The Ger
mans repeatedly tried to take the quar-
ries by storm, but so gallant was the
defense of the comparatively small
forces that the attacking troops were
unable to push their way through.
While this struggle was in progress
the enemy flung five divisions against
the line in front of Hargicourt and
compelled the British to fall back from
the struggle in the Templeur quarries
and the defenders fell back little
On Friday a fierce engagement was
waged about LIE Verguier, which the
Germans captured, but not until the
British infantry holding the place had
fought to the last man and inflicted
extremely heavy losses on the enemy
The British again fell back. this time
to line through Hervi1ly. just east of
Roisel and Vermand-
Tanks Win in Counter Attack.
The Germans captured Hervtlfy, but
the British came back with the help of
tanks in a dashing counter attack,
which forced the enemy to withdraw.
The Germans, however, in an attack
farther down the line had forced the
British line to swing back. and tho
PEELED to give way. falling back to tho
line Of the Somme. ~ EE q
Every inch of ground was contested
as the British withdrew. and some of
the most magnificent work Of the war
was done by the hardy troops who
fought the rearguard action and al
lowed the main force to retire in an.
orderly and moderate manner.
The fighting southwest of Roisel was
especially severe. On Saturday the
Germans were tired and there was no
very heavy fighting in this section.
The enemy forces pushed forward to
occupy the evacuated territory, and. as
they came. they were deluged with
shells by the British artillery.
No finer targets could have been Of
fered to the defending artillerymen,
who shot all day with open sights and
covered the ground in front of them
with dead and dying.
On Sunday the Germans advanced
against the Somme defenses. and. hav-
ing pierced some. of these. are seeming
ly pushing their advantages to the full
in the hope of overcoming all oppose
ton to the detectives which they have
planned.