Continuing his onslaughts without a pause throughout Thursday night, by
the light of the moon, and again on Friday morning, the enemy on Friday afternoon succeeded in breaking through our main positions to the west of St. Quentin. This involved a general retirement from the positions further north. Our line, pivoting on Monchy, to the east of Arras, was swung back till it ran south through Bapaume and Peronne and along the Upper Somme. The divisions south of St. Quentin, though almost overwhelmed by the hostile armies opposed to them, fought hard for the line of the Crozet Canal and held Jussy throughout Friday night, but they were gradually forced back. A dangerous gap seemed to be opening in the Oise Valley, through which the Crown Prince meant to pass. The enemy made a stupendous effort to profit by the opportunity, but he was delayed too long on the canal. French divisions appeared in this sector last Saturday and restored the continuity of the Allied line.
