Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-02
GERMANS ROLL
OF DEAD GROWS
GALLANT STAND BY ALLIES
CHECKS PRUSsIANS EAST
OF AMiENS.
[By Associated Press STAFF

IBy Associated Press STAFF
CorreSpOndentl
British Army Headquarters IN
France, March S1.-(Delayed)-The
last twenty-four hours continued I'M
favorable to the aggressive Germans
along the British section of the new
battle front and was a strikingly good
period for the defenders. This morn
ing the British were holding their en-
tire line with strength and had taken
the initiative at several places sue
cessfully.
The most intense fighting continued
south of the Somme in the zone where
the French have been making such q
gallant stand. The outstanding fea-
ture Of the conflict on the northern
end Of the front is that the British
again have killed a great number Of
the enemy which, despite its harsh
sound, is what will end the war.
BRITISH RETAkE GROUND
Today the British initiated a for
ward movement about Fouchy Copse,
east Of Arras. They launched a local
attack at 3 o'clock this morning and
pressed it so vigorously that they re-
claimed a stretch Of territory 1,600
yards long and averaging about zoo
yards in depth. This success had tao
teal advantages but they were email
compared with the fact that the Brit
ish we're able, after the past ten days
Of gruelling work, to undertake an Of
fensive operation.
South Of the Somme, where there
has been so much hard fighting. the
British appear to have the situation
we'll in hand and the town hall OF
Moreuil, about which sAnguinary
struggles have been swaying. was last
reported still flying the British nag
dehantly from the steeple. One Of tho
most costly attacks the enemy at
tempted yesterday was between MS9s
lancourt and the Somme, where Z
heavy assault was made against the
australians shortly after midday.
5000 HUNS FALL
The attackers came forward In
masses and the British threw them
selves against the advancing lines so
Aercely that the Germans were hurled
back, leaving 5000 dead.
The British operation 1t Lassigny
farm, south of Hebuterne, between Al.
bert and Aras, yesterday, afternoon,
which resulted IN STRENGTHENING the
defending line, was brilliant success.
The Germans were pushed back with
heavy casualties and British troops
returned with 200 prisoners. forty ma
chine guns and q trench mortar.
South Of Arras the enemy made two
attacks yesterday. One was near
hA
paume railway, while the other was
north of Boisleux st. Mare. Both Of
the efforts we're smashed, although
particularly hard fighting occurred
round Boiseleux. In this operation
the Germans advanced in great mum.
bers after an intense bombardment Of
the British lines for two hours. At
three places the enemy succeeded in
penetrating the defenses and bitter
hand to hand struggle ensued. The
British made such a strenuous resist.
ance that the Germans we're thrown
back leaving numbers Of dead.
SMALL GERMAN GAIN
Northeast Of Arras the Germans
made small attack Saturday after a
heavy bombardment and pushed for.
ward over tiny strip of ground but
the operation was so small as to be
hardly worth considering.
There was an unconfirmed report
today that large concentration Of
Germans In preparation for an attack
on a certain place on the battle front
had been caught in an artillery and
machine gun barrage and completely
knocked out.
The results of the fighting on the
British front south Of the Somme dur.
ing the past two days have been sat.
isfactory. Heavy German attacks on
both sides of the Luce river Friday
forced the British to fall back some.
what. Friday night the enemy pushed
forward and penetrated large wood
northeast Of Moreuil which created an
uncomfortable situation for the de-
tenders.
CAVALRY HELPS BRITISH
Saturday the British decided to re-
store the lines and cavalry was sent
out for the purpose Of clearing the
wood and re-establishing the positions
north of Moreuil. There was not a
hitch in the program. The cavalry
swept through the forest like a winter
snow storm and forced the enemy to
fall back, not ony here but further
to the north.
North Of the Luce the enemy yester-
day morning attacked in force along
the British line between Warfusee
and Marcelcave. This assault was
preceded by q vigorous artillery bonn
bardment. The cavalry again came
into play and by 10 o'clock the Ger
mans were compelled to admit defeat
and to retire with large casualties.
A little later the enemy again put
down q tremendous barrage between
Warfusee and the Somme and after
two hours Of terrific gunfire advanced
in masses. They came against more
cavalry and met a similar fate, the
British line remaining intact.
North Of Aubecourt and south Of
Marcelcave the British stormed and
recaptured important high ground to
which the Germans had chung tena-