Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1918-04-04
Allied Victory, Experts Say.

played.
Allied Victory, Experts Say.
Military experts, scanning the first
reports, commented thus:
"The great cOunteroffensive has be-
gun. Beaten at Arras and in the drive
toward Amiens, the Germans have
failed in any plan they may have had
to reach the coast.
Beaten at Montdidier and Lassigny,
the enemy must also abandon any hope
of reaching Paris. The British and
French armies have preserved their
entity as a fighting unit. All three OBJ
iectives Of the enemy have been lost"
Summary Of Greatest Battle.
MARCH 21.-The Germans began
their long-expected west front often
sive. Berlin claimed to have pene-
trated portions Of the British posi-
tons between Cambria and Lafere
London admitted some ground lost,
but emphasized the enemy's heavy
losses.
MARCH 22.-Hindenburg continued
to push forward at some points, while
the British counter-attacked and took
Doignes, eight miles east and north of
Bapaume, on the Bapaume-O Smbrai
highway. Haig announced the Ger
mans threw 40 divisions (48O,O0O men)
into battle on the first day and assert
ed the enemy losses Were terrific.
MARCH 23.-The enemy advanced
to Roupy, north of the Somme, which
is four miles southwest of st. Quentin,
and to Jussy, south of the Somme,
about seven miles west Of the former
line. The Germans claimed to have
taken $4,000 prisoners, 400 cannon
and 300 machine guns.
MARCH 24.-The offensive gathered
momentum and swept forward to a
depth of 10 miles. Peronne, Ham and
BethencOurt fell. Berlin claimed 30
900 prisoners and 600 cannon.
MARCH 25.-Bapaume, Nesle, GUS
card and Chauny were lost by the
FrancOBritish. The heaviest fighting
had shifted south Of the Somme, where
the enemy pushed forward an addl-
tiOnal five miles, This marked the
first appearance Of the French in the
major fighting and announcement was
made that American engineer, regl-
ments were engaged. Berlin now
claimed a total of $4,000 prisoners.
The Germans continued to lose men
at a staggering rate.
MARCH 26. - ROye, Noyen, and
LihOns fell. The Germans made their
greatest effort to date north Of the
SOmme and pushed forward to the out
skirts of Albert, making a total ad-
vance of IA miles in that region. Ber-
lin announced that cannon captured
tOtaled 963, besides 100 tanks. The
German losses so far were unOfticlally
estimated at 100000.
MARCH 27.-Albert was captured,
but with it's fall the German west
ward advance from that place north
was practically stopped. The offensive
began to show signs Of exhaustion
The British made successful counter
attacks between the Somme and the
Aacre, recapturing Morlancourt and
Chippy. South of the Somme, how
ever, RoSieres was invested.
MARCH 2S.-The German crown
princes army took Montdidier. This
practically marked the high tide of the
offensive. The enemy extended the
battle front northward beyond the
Scarpe and entered advanced British
positions east of Arras. Haig's men
held firmly elsewhere. The French
counter-attacked between NoyOn and
Lassigny, retal1ing the villages Of Mes
nil, st. Georges, COurtamanche and
AsSainvillers. General Pershing con-
ferred with General Foch, placing the
entire American eXpeditionary force at
Foch's disposal.
MARCH 29.-Hindenburg' attack
continued to slow up, ostensibly him
dered by the heavy rain which fell
during the night. The allies gained
some ground south Of the SOmme, but
the Germans pushed forward slightly
toward Amiens. Foch's appointment
az generaliSsimo of all the allied
armies was semiofficially announced.
MARCH 30.-The Germans began to
dig themselves in at various points
along the battle front. The attack eX
tended northward again, this time to
the vicinity of Loos. The heaviest
fighting was in the region of Mont
didier, where the enemy was attack.
ing savagely on thirty-seven mile
front, from Moreuil southwark to
MOntdidier and eastward to a point
beyond Lassigny.
MARCH 31-British and French,
with cooperation Of American engin
GERS, started counter offensive. Haigs
troops take offensive north and south
of the SOmme. British restore line in
Luce valley. Enemy's casualties esti-
mated at thousands on this front
alone. Many prisoners captured.
Moreuil retaken by French and Brit
ish after bayonet charge. Wood north
Of Moreuil also captured by allied
troops. French gained as far as vicin-
ity of Cann-Sur-Mat French recap
ond 600 Cor.