AS HARD AS THE MONS RETREAT

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 28 March 1918, Page 5

AS HARD AS THE MONS RETREAT

LONDON, March 27. Mr Percival Phillips states: Even the troops in their retirement "from Mons had not a harder time than those bearing the brunt of these sledgehammer blows. It is impossible to picture the scenes witnessed on the old Somme battlefields.

The hard fighting to-day on both sides of Roye is again delaying the arrow-head formations that are thrusting against our defensive screen Although there has been little artillery in some regions, notably to-day northwest of Bapaume, it is evident the

enemy's progress is largely due to the rapid advance of the heavies. Thus, in the fighting round Hattencourt and Koye, many large howitzers were engaged. Another reason is the excellence of the non-commissioned officers in keeping the men together. The enemy is plentifully supplied with maps. None of the objectives marked on the maps were attained on time.