Show i I I I I 1 I 1 1 I i I I I ADVANCE ANCE SLOWS UP AS BRITISH MAKE STU STUBBORN RN STAND STANDI I Number of Pris Prisoners ners CapI Cap Cap- Captured Captured Grows Less Part art artof I I of U. U S. S in Doubt By Dy International News Service WASHINGTON March 25 The The German advance has slowed up materially materially mate mate- rIall official advices reaching here today said The British are holding the enemy at all points although they are still fighting on the defensive The situation seemed materially clearer although the end of the present battle hattle is not yet In sight All of the information received in Washington shows conclusively that the terrific force of the earlier attack has slackened In the face of or the BritISh British British Brit Brit- ish defense however Officials here could not ke public today the re reports reports reports re- re ports which have reached them from General Pershing This Is due duo to the fact that the American commander in chief has no direct personal knowledge of what is going on but simply the confidential information received from the British and French high commands This has been transmitted to the war department but officials sa say they cannot cannot cannot can can- not make it public until the same facts come from London and Paris U U. U S. S PART UNCERTAIN I The question of whether Americans I Iare are actual participants In this the I I greatest battle ever known remained I I unanswered today At the war Val department depart depart- depart I I ment meat officials said that they had no official word yet It was stated that I the American public will be kept in informed informed in- in In-I In I formed on all developments affecting I I our troops S SIt It is expressed a as a fact that American Ameri Amen can troops will participate in the counter assault which is to be launched The supreme war council at Versailles planned and brought into j I existence a reserve which will be used in the present battle officials say unless unless unless un un- un- un less something unexpected should re require require ro- ro quire It being utilized elsewhere In Inthis Inthis I. I this reserve are certain American units Officials here believe that when the time arrives for the entente to attempt the offensive there will be delivered a telling blow on the German left flank by a a. a S combined French and British force simultaneous with an assault on the right flank by Canadians British and colonial troops In explaining the manner in which the German drive has slowed stowed up army experts today cited the following First day 16 prisoners Second da day prisoners S Third day prisoners FIGURES TELL OWN STORY These figures they declared toll toil their own stor story The first and second da days clays s captures were for the most part men Haig Halg was comp compelled to sacrifice in order successfully to carry out the retreat made necessary by the tho weight of th the German metal Attention was I called to the newspaper reports from London and Paris which show that in I II three days dais of fighting the Germans have hardly attained the decision which was set to be accomplished In Inthe inthe the first days day's endeavor All AU this Is I I very satisfactory the army experts sa say sal There wa was wafe continued discussion of reports from Paris that the city cily was being shelled by a n. gun located seventysix seventy seventy- six miles from Paris The army experts experts experts ex ex- ex- ex here very frankly dismiss the report as improbable and cite technical technical cal reasons why It cannot be true They hold with Major General Leonard Wood who has just returned from fromI fromI I f France that the bombardment reported Is aerial in character The French I I officers here also sa say they have no confirmation that any such such gun is be beIng being being be- be ing used Generally officers are chary of discussing the subject preferring to I await official facts before going on r record cord I |