The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-03-30
nv PERCIVAI PHILLIPS.

BRirtsn ARMY HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE, March 2S.--1'he present situation
on the battle front does not give the
crisis Is now thought to have passed ant
fresh British troops OF the mobile re-
serve formed TO meet Just such situa
ton are coming steadily into the fight
ing line.
New batteries hurried from the real
a-e laying the foundation for fUmidaol,
protective barrages. ard there are sLgn'
that the enemy Is being hard pushed fol
reserve forces to maintain his onwart
sweep. The enemy had thrown into th'
fight one Of his naval divisions. {
thing that never has been done hereto
fore unless ne had been caught shor
handed and had to meet an exactng sit
uation.
The men In this naval division, w
are told from prisoners. were Informed
that they would not be called upon q
hght and that they were opposing tiret
troops which would not make much re
s!stance. They already have learned 4
their sorrow that British battalions. al
! though tired may fight az we'll as evel
/ Tho lesson has cost them heavy casu
alties.
Attack Near Arras Heavy.
The mos, important development q
! the battle to-day was the attack made 1
| the direction OF Arras from tho southwes
Another equally heavy attack may 500
be made on both banks Of tho Rive
Somme Masses Of German troops ar
said to have arrived IN the region c
Bray, behind already fully placed troop
Guns that are coming up toward ARA
are chiefly from below the River Scarp'
storm divisions have appeared on
marrow front with n great depth in til
region of GuemaI1es and Wancour
After preliminary bonhardment tina
lasted unit, the middle OF the morrin
they succeeded yesterday in penetratin
the British front line trenches on lin
some hundreds of yards lorg. lleav
aghting Is taking place for bits o. hie
ground that offer Typographical advar
taees abov. the ScarIe River, Thes
points are known as Telegraph Hill an
Range Hill which points formed PAL
Sof tho British battle lire when TIE Gel
man line was broken al the A,yas salieT
IN April. 1917,
The hardest .iRhtrg on our left ye'
terday vas near the high ground
front OF Ayette. about midway b~twee
lArras and Rapaume The enemy mac
we rNHt dttdtN III vac lIoi ans hiit NH'
ceeded. under cover Of heavy art'ller
and trench mortar fire. IN taking IN
spur.
Hard Fighting Follows.
Famous British regiments which hay
had place in the fighting history OF Il
empire IN many notable campaigns fa
place in the counter attack that 10
lowed on this break the patch OF W
land. covered with fields that had bee
devastated and upor which rusty far
implements still remained. saw strul
gle that swayed backward and forwai
with varying fortunes Then our me
regained the crest at II 80 o'clock.
the same time. with thrust tewa'
Ayette. the enemy made very dete
mined attacks from Boyel!e across I,
Cojeul River, but the attacks fall
with heavy Casualties, A second
tempt. made about two hours later. m
with no better SUCCESS.
About o'clock In tho afterno'
masses OF German infantry tried
, come down tho sunken road toward q
|, Bois IeuXaumont and made an Rttem
, 10 bomb the trench to the north OF
This, however. was but the feint for a
, other attack and one much moro S
1 rous. which WAS directed to the rig
and threatened tho Ayette spur and I
village Of that name. The enemy su
ceeded in reoccupylng the high Rrou.
/. and in consequence our troops arpe
TO have fallen back through the villa
= 10 position between Ayette and I
. Ancre fuNcr.
: Where Enemy Was Held.
D Troops deploying from Longeastwo
v came with their storm battaltonS wi
orders to take PusieuNaumont. T
| gaping ruins of the Baillescourt farm
d Reaucourt. above the narrow valley
e the Ancrc, we're alive with men in fie
a gray. waiting to support the attack.
? the region OF Beaumont-Hamel all of t
t cnemy's efforts failed. even at Roster
e vhere strong enemy patrols establish
Z themselves with machine guns prepaI
n Tory TO attacking.
r The German infantry were permit
to settle down and enjoy what r.
= they could with our bombing arm
I making a Anal attack. Under snao
parrage they made Serre. one OF I
j. old front line fortresses in the days
d fore the battle Of the Sommc.
Q Along the Ancre River and on be
sides of Albert the situation has ,
n changed greatly, save that the enei
Il appears to have pushed a salien, moi
/ of the town. South OF the Somme Ri,
s the Germans appear to have pushed II
: the neighborhod of La Motto, on I
II Amiens- ns-Villers-Carbonnel road.
J. they did not exert great pressure d,
ing the night, perhaps owing TO tn
y preparations for another big attack.
d The British armies are now fghti
in the open.