BRITISH LINE EVERYWHERE INTACT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 27 March 1918, Page 5

BRITISH LINE EVERYWHERE INTACT.

BENT, BUT UNBROKEN

PLENTY OF MEN, GUN& AND

TANKS,

READY TO REPLACE THOSE LOST.

LONDON, March 25. The United Press correspondent, writing on Monday, states that with increasing intensity the battle thunders from the Scarpe to the Oise. Prisoners declare the;heaviest blows are. yet to come.

The Germane, at heavy cost, nude progress on the old battlefield of the Somme, but the British line is everywhere intact, the withdrawal being carried out in the most perfect order., There was all night fighting of the severest order, especially on the Sapig-nies-Bapaume road. , The Germans, in dense masses, huried forward in the moonlight, British machine guns raking, them ceaselessly. Observers signalled back to the artillery, the gunners, halfstripped, firing until the guns were almost red hot. The enemy pressed on> almost without .artillery support, trusting to bend our line by sheer force of numbers:,? No such targets were ever of_ fered to modern guns. The fighting northward of Bapaume* continued terrific^ likewise southward^ the enemy- desperately attacking and! maintaining the crossing of the Somme. Apparently the Germans are endeavoring to drive a wedge in the centre of the battle front, where they have created a pointed salient. Notwithstanding the, massed onslaught and great~ losses, the British line is bent, but ■unbroken, which Hindenburg counted upon in the first day. Airmen keep up in the air battling* and creating new records. Notwithstanding the strain of ceaseless work an admirable spirit prevails. Meanwhile the Germans are up to their old tricks. Disguised as British officers they are travelling in towns in the rear advising the population to flee,, saying, "The Germans are approaching." One was caught red-handed. (Australian Cable Association.) LONDON, March 25. Mr Lloyd George states that men; guns, and tanks are on their way to France, and that for every one lost |, thousands more are ready.