The evening world., 1918-03-23
BRITISH UNDER GREATEST
BOMBARDMENT in HISTORY
One Division Held Back Six of the Germans
Near ST. Quentin and Only Withdrew
When Darkness Came.

LONDON, March 23The artillery preparation of The Germans in
he drive against the British lines described by those who took part in
the violent they endured according to the Daily Mails
British front "The thing stands
lctec Of the fighting up to present" says the correspondent writ
ing night "S that did so we'll under the terrific impact
South of ST. Quentin divisions had to bear up against the
repeated assaults Of six German divisions possibly 10000 and only
when the assaults ceased with darkness did troops withdraw strong
positions behind the canal system between ST. Quentin and the Oe
at is estimated that altogether nearly 100000 Germans participated
the offensive The enemy fought well and his gunne did good ser
The qucness with which the guns brought forward No Mans
Land after the infantry had advanced marked He had in many
places the advantage positions and he all points largely
superior in numbers"
The strength of the morars which the enemy brought up such
great numbers corps front" he says "nt such
whming weight iron and high explosives that parts the
wire ceased be obstacle and trenches obed
GAS SHELLS DRENCH BRITISH BATTERIES.
AT the time all of known battery positions drenched
with gas their gas shells failed TO reach all of batteries did
they succeed anywhere breaking down wire point we
the found wire unbroken they set 10 work with scissors until
they had made way through incident reminiscent of the methods
fighting ucaed by Frederick the Great All of this done under
machine gun fire.
"A curious reported by aimen that the Germans COM
posing the special assault divisions uniforms Got on their
clothes for a visit to Paris commented one Of Generals
flying corps did valuable work despite adverse weather
don the early morning reconnaissance spotted
several thousand Germans moving westward south of Buecou and
another reported three thousand the in sunken road this
waiting advance Few enemy machines and they
mostly low, pepperng trenches with their machine guns
BRITISH GJNNERS WEAR GAS MASKS.
"Tns the battle where British gnnS had guns
gas masks and difficult task. Fortunately practices with gas
masks have been taking place frequently for hour daily found
every one pretty confident At first they did have hard job
meet the masses who in denser formation than
ever BEFORE yet all reports show that they fought magncen
The attack of Cambria failed To the SOUTH below Quentin
one British division off masd attacks of six German divisions and
killed thousands The advanced 5000 yards the British
lines north and south Croes by throwing 100000 into massed
action svenme front Eight German divisions attacked British
divisions on sixInie front before CheriSy.
The entire drive made behind buage gas shells every
where British officers and fought all day with gas masks Even
this could not dampen the bon the havoc they caused the German
infantry that presented such pontnk targets British machine guns
worked terrible devastation in the ranks of the onrhng enemy
At least forty German divisions already have been identified tax
ing part in the initial drive and British flyers who have the mastery
the air. report Others huyg up To these 100000 men, believed
Hag has opposed larger forces In its extent and the feroy OF
the fighting the battle has been euaed intensity, preceded
was by the from the greatest concentration of artillery in the worlds
history