The army commander wishes to record officially his appreciation of the excellent work your regiment has done in assisting the British Army to resist the enemy's powerful offensive during the last ten days. I fully realize that it has been largely due to your assistance that the enemy has been checked, and I rely on you to assist us still further during the few days which are still to come before I shall be able to relieve you in the line. I consider your work in the line to be greatly enhanced by the fact that, for six weeks previous to taking your place in the front line, your men had been working at such high pressure erecting heavy bridges on the Somme. My best congratulations and warm thanks to all. RAWLINSON. [Illustration: Gen. Sir H. S. Horne] [Illustration: Gen. Sir Julian Byng (_Underwood_)] [Illustration: Gen. Sir H. C. O. Plumer (_Bain News Service_)] [Illustration: Gen. Sir H. S. Rawlinson] [Illustration: GERMAN COMMANDERS IN FRANCE Gen. Ludendorff, _Quartermaster General of the Army_] [Illustration: Gen. Otto von Below (_Press Illustrating Service_)] [Illustration: Gen. von Kathen] [Illustration: Gen. von Gallwitz] Battle Viewed From the French Front By G. H. Perris _Special Correspondent with the French Armies_ _George H. Perris was with the French Armies in Picardy throughout the German offensive. The aim of the Germans was to drive a wedge between the British and French Armies at the point of juncture near La Fère, and Mr. Perris was admirably situated to obtain not only the story of the fighting on the allied right, but a good general view of the whole great battle and of the strategic methods adopted by the German command._ CURRENT HISTORY MAGAZINE, _through its connection with_ THE NEW YORK TIMES, _has full use of these important dispatches, which are copyrighted._ [See Map on Page 198.] A little before 5 A. M. on March 21, between the Scarpe and the Oise, there began an extremely violent artillery preparation, including barrages largely composed of gas shells, especially near Cambrai, and toward the Oise a strong counterbattery fire and a plentiful bombardment of the allied rear and communications.