Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 103, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1918 — BRITISH ROUT HUNS IN FIERCE FIGHT FOR ARRAS [ARTICLE]

BRITISH ROUT HUNS IN FIERCE FIGHT FOR ARRAS

Haig's Men Victors In All-Bay Battle South of the Scarpe. FRENCH WIN ON WIDE FRONT Petain's Troops Advance to Depth of Over Mile on Six-Mlle Front From Ijassigny to Noyon Americans Ready to Enter Conflict—tleimans Take Montdldier. London, March 29. —After an all-day battle north and south of the Scarpe, with Arras as the chief center, the British forces have beaten off the Germans, with heavy losses to the enemy, according to the report from Field Marshal Haig. French Hurl Foe Back. Paris, March 29. —On the front from Lassigny to Noyon our troops have advanced over a lino about ten kilometers (slightly over six miles) long to a depth of two kilometers (one and one-fifth miles), says the war office statement Issued. The repulse of the Germans in villages further west also is announced. Continuing to attack with strong forces in the region of Montdldier during the whole morning, the enemy attempted to enlarge ills gains west and south of this town, but with magnificent elan the French counter-attacked with the bayonet and drove the Germans out of the villages of Courtemanche, Mesnll-St. Georges and Assalnvlllers, which the French have occupied and hold solidly. On the left bank of the Oise savage attacks by the enemy have given him no advantage, the French holding their positions energetically. ' Allies May Cut Off Foe's Army. The French counter-drive, if pushed to success and if joined by a British “pincer” against his right flank, would completely turn the tables on the foe. Out-Hlndenburgihg Hindenburg, the allies would cut off the entire German army in the center of the great salient that has been thrust into the allied lines. The southern side of the huge wedge between Montdldier and Noyon is 20 miles long, so that a French break through at Noyon wotHd mean tackling tiie Germans 20 miles in their rear. By administering to the foe his own poisonous medicine ot Cambral fame the allies, it appears, plan to turn the Somme battlefield into the grave of the main German army in the very moment when the German press pictures that -field as the scene of "victory which will bring peace.” Battle Raging on 60-Mlle Front. A battle greater in scope and fury than the Marne rages along a front of nearly 60 miles between Arras and Noyon. It has ail the aspects of a decisive combat. It consists of a series of Interwoven and interdependent flanking attacks and counter-attacks. Foremost in importance is that now being launched by the Frenclu Like a half-opened umbrella, a huge German Wedge has been thrust Into the allied lines near the Franco-British junction. The head of this wedge is northwest of Montdldier. The northern side of this salient is about half the length of the southern one. From Montdldier to Noyon it is ten miles.

New Menace Faces British. The French counter-blow fell against a little more than one-third of the southern aide. Upon the further development of this counter-of-fensive, depends not only the success or failure of the' whole German drive, but the fate of the entire French battle line to the Swiss border as well as the fate of Paris. But to the British, in the meantime, a new menace has sprung up in the form of a German drive against Arras. Strategic evacuation of Arras mjist be counted among the possibilities of the next few hours. Weather Favors Allies. Thus, the end of the eighth day of the Picardy battle, unless all signs are deceiving, sees fortune slowly but steadily switching over to the allies’ side. For the first time in a week the weather has become threatening. This presents another formidable danger to the Teutons, who have to bring up their reserves, supplies and guns across the desert of mud and ruins which they themselves made a year ago out of “sunny Picardy,” 100,000 U. S. Troops Ready. Washington, March, 29.—Not fewer than 100,000 American troops, it is believed by military experts here, are ready to take their place in the battle line In France to withstand the German attack or to assist in a counterattack. General March said he had no such information.

Huns Take Montdidier. With the French Annies in France, March 29. —Fresh German troops were thrown against the French army maintaining the junction between the French and British lines, and notwithstanding the determined stand made by the French they were forced to retire toward the west, the Germans breaking through at Montdidier and occupying that place. Farther south the French held well, resisting all the German efforts. In the rear of the French army the movements were so intense that it was impossible to approach the firing line. Notwithstanding the continued advance of the Germans, the battle has become more or less stabilized in the last two days. The French are pushing northward in order to keep In close touch with the British, who had been forced back by overwhelming numbers. French troops have relieved part of the British line. Nothing as yet has been allowed to develop regarding the intentions of the entente allied commanders, but it is certain that at an opportune moment they will make a counter-stroke. German Plan Rehearsed. The general Idea of the battle as far as it has gone shows that the Germans chose to make their principal attack against the British front. At the same time they made a demonstration just where the two armies, French and British, join. The Germans succeeded In making a breach in the British line, which the French forces closed, first sending cavalry to fill the gap. The Germans had carefully prepared for this offensive, whole divisions and army corps rehearsing the parts they were to play when the moment came. Just before the assault the British lines were deluged with shells for a short period and with projectiles charged with noxious gases. Huns Attack in Waves. Then came thick waves of infantry, closely following one another. The first waves, or what remained of them, reached their objectives and held on until further waves came along and cleaned up the islets of British, who were holding out with obstinacy,, using for that purpose jets of liquid flame. Re-enforcements joined the Germans, and from the captured first British line a murderous,fire with rifles, machine guns and automatics was opened on the rear lines of the British. This rain of death was so deadly as to overpower the British reserves, who could not see whence it came and were unable to advance to the assistance of their comrades in the first line, owing to the severity of this fire. Under cover of this hall of bullets the German waves of Infantry made their way into the second British line. The Germans lay down when they had advanced for some distance and allowed still other waves to pass through the intervals.

French Hurl Foe Back. London, March 29.—French troops counter-attacked with great dash and drove back the enemy on a front of ten kilometers (slightly over six miles) to a depth of three kilometers (almost two miles) southward of Noyon. The French pressure on the enemy is continuing. The British are holding their positions north of the Somme, their line in that area standing virtually the same as Wednesday night. Several German attacks in this region were repulsed. Attack in Arras Sector. The Germans threw at least seven divisions into an attack on the British front on both sides of the Scarpe river after a heavy bombardment. The British forward zone was penetrated and a fierce engagement took place in the battle zone. This attack was delivered opposite Arras. In the region affected the British line now runs from Arleux to Fampoux, Neuville-Le-Vitasse and Boisleux. British Take Prisoners. The war office’s day report states that prisoners and machine guns have been captured by the British. Repeated attacks were made by the enemy along the valley of the Somme in the neighborhood of Beaumont-Hamel, Pulsleux and Moyenneville, says the statement. They were repulsed. Yankees Fight Like Veterans. Paris, March 29—“ Entirely new in this warfare, the Americans worked like the best veterans in the battle of the Sotnme,” says a wounded French captain who has been brought back from the battlefield. He is quoted in La Liberte. Foe Claims Capture of Villages. Berlin, March 29. —The official statement issued here Is as follows: “There were engagements on the Scarpe and on the Ancre. Between the Somme and the Avre strongly defended villages were taken. To the south of the Somme our divisions at many points broke their way through the old enemy positions and drove the British and French back into regions of France which have remained untouched by war since 1914. “The victorious troops of the German crown prince have penetrated info the enemy’ positions to a depth of 60 kilometers (37.2 miles) in an uninterrupted attack from St. Quentin across the Somme. They pushed forward as far as Pierrepont and took possession of Montdidier.”