Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-02
BRITISH TAKE INITIATIVE
~ ENEIttL PLACES
LEY AssocLated rrrss \


IN FRANCE, March, Sl.--Thc last TWEEN
ty-four hours continued unfavorablc to
the aggressive Germans along the
British section Of the new battle front
and was a strii<ingly good period for
tho defenders. This morning the Brit
ish were holding their entire line with
strength and they had smashed num-
crouS heavy German attacks at va
rious points and had taken tho ini,ia-
tive at several places successfully.
The most intense fighting continued
south of the Somlne in the zone where
the French have been making such Il
gallant stand. The outstanding feature
OF the conflict on the northern end of
the front is that the British again have
ht!,cd a great number OF the cnomy.
which. despite its harsh sound. is what
Will end the war
To-day the British initiated IA for
ward movement about Feuchy Copsc
east OF Arras. They launched a local
attack at o'clock this morning and
PRESSED it so vigorously that they re-
claimed stretch OF territory 1900
yards long ana avcra ging about 100
yards in depth. This success had tao
lica' advantages, but they wcr" snail
compared with the fact that the British
were able after the past ten days OF
Eruclling work. 10 undertake an Of
fensive operation.
DRITIsII FLAG NOW
FLIES IN MnUEUIi.
South Of tho Sommc. whore there has
been SO much hard lighting. the British
"prear 20 have the situation we'll In
hAnd, and the town hall OF Morcuil
ABOUT which sanguinary battles have
been swaying, was at last reports still
flying the British nag denant!y from the
sicep!e. One OF the most costly at
lacks the enemy attempted yesterday
was between Moriancourt and the
Son!me. whsr: heavy assault was
made asalnSt. the" Australians shortly
after midday The attackers came for
ward in masses and the British threw
themselves against the advancing lines
so nercely that the Germans were
hurled back. leaving 5000 dead
The British operation At i.assigny
farm south of Hcbu,erne. between AL
bert and Arras yesterday afternoon.
which resulted in straightcniuE the
dividing line. was a brilliant success
The Germans were pushed back with
heavy casualties. and British troops
returnel with 200 prisoners. forty ma.
chine guns and trench mortar
The results OF the Nghtne on the
R'itish front south or The Sommc dur
ing Tho pi"t two days have been saus-
factory. Heavy German attacks on
both SIDES Of the Luce River Friday
forced the British 10 fall back some
what Friday night the enemy pushed
forward ana penetrated u large wood
northeast u Moreuu which created an
Uncomfortable situation for the de-
Tenders.
tempt TO restore the lines, and cavalry
was sent oU' for the purpose Of clear.
ing the wood tnd restoring the pos,-
tons north Of MorcuN. There was not
n hitch in the program The cavalry
SWEPT ;hrough the forest Ike u snow
storm nn" forced the enemy 10 fan
back. no; ONLY here. bu; further 10 The
north.
IT Is now possible to ten 81 spec.
tacular feature OF a bru!lan, BRITISH
defense last Week below tho Soromc
II Is the story 81 Il lttlc army com.
posed largely Of assortmcuts OF troops
VINO we've hastily assembled i'm a rre.,
crisis and VINO successfully held a vital
stretch OF tho 'front.' against furious
German onslaughts until rc-cnforcc-
inents could arrive. IN thls gallant
fore" were Included American railway
engineers, who, a. III the ba,,!c OF cam
brai' last Govember. threw uide tnc,r
tools and took up arms III defcnae Of
The allied colors.
THIS incident Is more spertacular bu,
hardly finer IN sp!ri' man tia, Of seven
Eri'sh soldiers These lads had been
home In England on leave and on land
ing at :: channe! port IN France could
hnd no transportation to tho front Did
they sit down and wait? They did no,
They tranped almost every foo, OF INC
way 10 the battle lines 10 take fhei-
places beside their hard pressed com,
rades.
(.InNsNS .>>rntc ,,n