New-York tribune., 1918-03-24

man masses moving over the open
country.
Airplanes, skimming low. machine
gunned huge marching bodies of men,
100 big to miss.
The hardest fighting continues
against the British right. though the
battle rattles ceasclessly throughout q
fifty front.
Hindenburg is straining his utmost
20 exploit his initial advantage in the
new war movement, lashing his guns
forward in an effort 10 sprinkle the
British rear
Huge Austrian high-velocity guns
are constantly attempting a harassing
fire far behind the lines.
One asks if she old hell hole of the
Somme battlefield, from which Haig
drove Hindenburg's armies and where
the Allies nearly achieved decisive
victory in 1916, will be the scene of the
new struggle on an ever increasing
scale.
To-day's events indicate that linden
burg desires to break one or the other
OF the British TANKS and then to try
ms tavoritc turning movement.
Tonight the great Tcutonc endcavor
continues. There has been great de-
fensive made by the British on both
the northern and southern ends of
their line. They are resisting every
where with the utmost stubbornness
herolc fighting is in progress along
the Roisel and Peronne routes and also
on the approaches to Ham and along
the Somme Canal. from Ham to Ter
gner.
The regions of Nurlu, More. Mer-
catel, Neuvlllc and Vitasse have been
the scenes of colossal struggles, Brit
iSh rear guards performing miracles
IN the face of far superior numbers.
Nuriu Is SIX miles north by east
of Peronne; Morg three miles south
of Croisilles, and Mercatel and Neu-
VILE three and one-half miles south
by east of Arras)
Despite the fact they are outnum-
bereG and that the weather and ground
conditions favor the enemy, the Brit
lsh have withstood the shock of the
attack splendidly.
Their withdrawal need cause no
panic The army and its commander
are confident. All is working out
smoothly. The new battle position IS
strong.
Stupendous fighting keeps up on the
whole new battlefront, with the haav-
lest lighting continuing opposite the
southern half of the British forces
presumably south of Cambrai), where
over thirty divisions (between 100000
and 100000. probably 100000 men-a
German division is estimated at be-
tween 5000 and $4,000 men, generally
l2,O0o) came on in masses. The Brit
lsh never had better targets, firing
point blank over open sights.
Ninety Divisions Engaged
1t is estimated that between sixty
and ninety German divisions (probably
between 100000 and l 1,0SO, 900 mem are
opposite the battle front
During the afternoon the visibility was
perfect and the big guns mutually
opened full force, producing the worlds
mightiest artillery chorus.
Personally, | have heard the French
drumnre IN the Champagne the Ger
man drumtire at Nerdun and the Brit
ish drumiire at Arras, Messines and
through Flanders. yet none has com
pared with the triple drumfire just be-
fore sundown. 1t was a continuous
roar. like wind and sea in storm.
There Is no doubt that the expected
battle of Titans is now on. The Ger
mans are attacking in unprecedented
masses. The British are KEYED to a
perfect fighting pitch.
Within the next twenty-four hours
the battle probably will develop con-
siderably.. Hindenburg is rushing up
Extraordinary fighting has taken
place IN the region of Roisellincourt
where the Germans made mad effort
TO break the line. But the British
guns dampened their enthusiasm and
the attempt was abandoned
The pressure is CONTINUING from tho
Scarpe to the Disc (sixty miles in an
ar lne). Fierce engagements also
are reported around Athies and Jussy.
"hiie an unsuccessful attempt was
made to cross the canal between Jussy
and Tergnier
tAthies is on the Scarpe. less than
tour miles east of Arras. Tergnier is.
TOUR miles west of La Fere. the south
ern extremity of the British line.
Jussy Is four miles north of Tergnier.
They are connected by the Crozat Ca
nal. The Berlin official statement de-
clares German troops forced the Brit
ash back across the canal at this
point