Norwich bulletin., 1918-03-23

In a battle that has rivalled in ferocity any that has preceded it dur ing three and a half years of warfare, the British, on a fifty mile front, have withstood a grea- German offen siye in it's initial stages. At some points the British line has been sent back, burt rot as much as had been expected by military experts ac qualnted with the forces the Germans had brought up and the power of the iguns they had upon and behind the line
 As the result of the struggle on that part of the front just west of Cam brai, where the fighting was apparent ly hottest. the British line has nowhere been broken and Field Marshal Hairs men have inflicted frightful casualties on the enemy.
 As an indication of the sanguinary nature of the fighting. the Berlin for eier office states that 1S,o00 men and zoo guns have been captured. This may be compared to the British losses in the German counter offensive on December 1, 1917, wheE 5000 men and 100 guns were captured.
 The first reports of infantry fight ing were indicative of an attempt on the nart of the Germans to drive wedgcs into both sides of the Cam brai ssilent. isolate the British troops further east and regain the linden burg line. from which they were driven on November g. 1917, by General Bvngs sudden blow Subsequent despetches have proven that this was indeed, the plan of the German gen. erai staff The fighting on the rest of the fifty mile front was but a side is sue to the terrific onslaught aimed at Gauche Wood and Lancourt, the south and north bases of the salient
 There is no data upon which it is possible to estimate the success at taired by the Germans to the south, hut names of towns where the armies were battling on Friday show that on the rorthern side of the salient the Germans bent the British line back about two and a half miles. It was reported that St. Ledger was the scene of a hard struggle and that Doignies had been retaken by the British. These points are about four kilometers or s4s miles, hack of the British lines as they stood before the attack began. Berlin claims that British first line positions from Arras to La Fere were captured.
 The eorsentration of men and artfl- lery on tLc British front as shown in NIUCldA IIldl llit Germans are making a determined effort to smash the British front Forty divisions, or about 400, 900 Teu- tonic troops. are in the fight. The total number of cannon the Germans aie employing cannot be estimated, but unofficial reports say that there wcre 1000 guns on one small sector Austrian and Bulgarian troops have made their appearance on the British front.
 The attack was launched under the eyes of Emperor William, Field Mar sllai Von Hfnderburg and General Ludendor1f, the three guiding spirits Of the German war machine. The French report fighting in various sec tors especially in Champagne and 'ir Lorraine.
 Hostiiities are not limited to tn, front in France. but the Italian bat. tie line IS beginning to show signs O aottvity beyond the ordinary. AT Austrian attack in the Frenzela Yslle! was checked by the Italians after al advanced post had been taken. Tn Frcnzela river is a continent of tn Brcnta and drive there would be fo tho purpose of gaining a foothold oi a road to the plains of northern Italy
 American cannon have continue the terrific pounding of the Germal lines in the Luneville sector and tn laiding parties have found that tn German trenches there have been de molished. So complete is the evac untion of the German first lines tha an. American patrol crossed No Man Land without artillery assistance an without being fired upon by the enc my
 The Germans, continuing their ad vance in southern Russia, have cap tured the city of ochakov. l1 mile northeast of Odessa The German are also continuing their invasion fur ther north. Chaotic conditions ar reported in northern Russia, where tn people are fleeing as best they ma from the invading Teutons.