<– Part 192 – March 24, 1918 | Part 193- March 31, 1918 | Part 194 – April 7, 1918
Germany’s Spring Offensive on the Western front continues. A British officer’s letter on the 25th is telling: “What remains in my memory of this day is the constant taking up of new positions, followed by constant orders to retire, terrible blocks on the roads, inability to find anyone anywhere; by exceeding good luck almost complete freedom from shelling, a complete absence of food of any kind except what could be picked up from abandoned dumps.” March 28, the Germans had advanced nearly 35 miles in the center of the thrust at Arras. However, massive casualties to that point have caused the offensive to lose steam, although fighting with marginal German advances continues elsewhere.
To facilitate cross-national maneuvers, French Field Marshal Ferdinand Foch was given “coordinating authority” over all allied forces, following a conference at Doullens on March 26.
At Khan Baghdadi, on the Euphrates, British forces launched another attack against the Ottomans. Since the normal series of events to date has had the victor advancing up the river while the loser withdraws, the British this time sent a flanking force around the Ottomans with armored cars, cavalry, and artillery. Following the frontal attack, the Turks retreated as usual – and encountered the new British force. The entire 5,000 man division surrendered. The British lost 159.
On March 27, at Amman, the exhausted Allied troops were pushed back to their locations at the beginning of the battle March 9 by a sustained Ottoman and German counter-attack. The attack was called off earlier today.
March 29 saw the most deadly attack by the Germans and their “Paris Gun” when a shell hit the roof of St-Gervais-et-St-Protais church during the Good Friday service, collapsing the roof and killing 91, wounding 68. An average of 20 shells have been landing each day. Although French aviators quickly located the entrenched artillery gun 75 miles away, they are unable to damage it.
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