"In fact," he declared, "one can feel a certain confidence. I must limit myself, however, to saying that contrary to' the German allegations, the Allied armies in the north are not encircled, but have maintained al communications with the sea, whereby they are receiving abundant supplies."
German armoured units, which slipped into the pocket between Arras and Amiens have attacked the western side of the Allied concentration in the north, he said. They have been held at St. Omer, and only succeeded in reaching a small number of ridges north-west of Arras, notably Vimy Ridge. "So far," the spokesman concluded, "German units operating in the Picardy gap' have consisted only of mobile detachments, armoured vehicles and mechanized infantry. Infantry divisions have not penetrated into the gap.' "—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.