HOLDING THE LINE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14574, 9 April 1918, Page 5

HOLDING THE LINE.

HEROTO FRENCHMEN: A' SPLEN-' DTD DEFENCE. CRITICAL D AYS AT END OF MARCH. -\ (Reuter's Telegram.) LONDON, April 7. Reuter's French headquarters' correspondent, writing on the 7th, says:-— In the battle, which commenced on Thursday, wo held and repulsed the enemy at most places with heavy losses, with troops whiejk entered the battle on March 25. ;, The closing days of „ March were among the most critical of the,,war. The Germans had been stopped on theO'ise and Somme, but 1 confronting /them behind Montdid'er and MoreuiL.was a, mere cordon barring tho way to Amiens. By tho 28th, reinforcements were brought and the. line re-estnblishod. bijt jt v?as only held by three French divisions. * : These three divisious, on; tour successive days, had to meet: the- shocfc of thirty enomy divisions, v During' the whole battle relief by the French was impossible, yet fresh German divisions were thrown m daily. As soon, as one division gained its objective, it was w*»ith- | drawn and replaced, and tbs retiring division was reinforced and rested,., a few days and was then sent into bati'le again. • ; , ■. The correspondent, gives many instances of th? fine stand made, and the. fierce fighting between small bodies of French against great odds during those; critical days. To-day's' lull is expected to be of shart duration. . -, ,