Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-29
british ARE
| ATTACKED ON
RIVER SCARPE
Both Sides of River
Scene of Very Heavy
Fighting But British
Hold Germans in
Check Farther to
South English Are
Force to Give
Ground

area. ploughshare, the German drive
a in pieardy has come almost to halt
n except at the very tip Of the salient
driven into the lines Of tho Entente
: Allies. As the area covered by the
= Teutonc offensive stands now it runs,
on the south, in an almost straight
e line from Landricourt, on the old
"Hindenburg line" to Montdidier,
we'll behind the Allied positions as
II they stood in 1916.
u Savage fighting has taken place on
e tho French front of the line. The
d German attempts to advance on the
extreme tip Of the salient driven into
y. -'~Vh positions, have been
tsN'e>as and they have been driven
back at the point Of the bayonet. Tho
British on the front north Of the
scarpe have also repulsed the enemy.
but south Of this river they have been
forced to retire.
From Montdidier the line to the
northeast runs with sharp angle to
Warvillers and there it turns north
ward and passes along the Somme
river to above Albert. where 1t again
turns to the northeast until it joins
the old lines held by the contingent
armies on the morning of March Il.
Out Of the confusion of the battle
and the contrary claims of the con-
testing armies two new features
stand out. The first is that the
French, over a front of six miles,
have driven into the German lines
along the southern side of the salient
established by the Teutonic drive.
The other is that the Germans have
begun new operation east of Arras,
which may be the inception of a wild
ening of the area of battle to the
northward
At the present moment the Allied
world is looking anxiously for news
Of the success of the French thrust
Into the flank of the German forces.
The fact that the drive progressed
rapidly and cut a deep notch into
the German held ground in the re-
Zion of Noyon may indicate that this
movement is the counter offensive
which has been expected for the past
three days. Progress by the French
for considerable distance into the
German forces would cut off the Teu-
tons fighting at the very tip of the
ploughshare" and compel them to
retreat or at least pause until the
menace to their communications can
be removed. \ further advance by
Inc French might easily overturn the
Whole plan of the Germans and bring
ABOUT new phase of the battle in
which the Allies would strike hard all
along the front and compel the Ger
mans to relinquish their dearly
bought conquests
The German activity near Arras
may have for its purpose either a
new drive at the Allies line or de-
lenslye operation intended to stop an
English blow from the north coinci-
oent with that begun by the French.
The British held firm north of the
ocarpe. but to the south of the river
nave been driven hack. Their line is
howSnear that occupied in July. 1916.
ana runs straight from Arleux. north
VI Arras. to BoisleuX. on the line held
W the British on the north side of
TIE dent driven into their lines by
me German thrust.
fsrn admits that the losses have
'eeh very heavy. The casualties are re-
erred to as normal which in view
" LIE magnitude of the battle may
mean that the. Germans have paid heav-
ny for the ground they have won. 1t
10 admitted that at certain points the
'0sses have been greater. but it is point
~ out that the proportion of slightly
"ounded is very high.
Americans nave been I'm the fighting
~au nave acquitted themselves nobly.
matches from Paris state that they
"''e Won the praise OF the French off,
y us Tor their conduct in the midst Of
mighty battle. 1t is said that Amer
san divisions are among the units form
the Strategic reserve" Of the allied
lines, es' II that is the case it is prob
~ 'e mat they ar. fighting near Noyon
~snt'nued on Paas 9-Col. 81