Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-04
GERMAN TROOPS
BRITISH DEFENSES
Tremendous Efforts Mark
Attempt of Teutons
to Break Thru
= Long Line.
ARTILLERY AIDS ATTACK
Battle Extends From La Vac
querie Toward Vendhuile;
Spreading Northward.
SLAUGHTER REPORTED GREAT
Heaviest Since Bloody Verdun
and Ypres; Huns Claim
5000 Prisoners.
SLAUGHTER REPORTED GREAT

WITH THE BRI tt S H
ARMY IN FRANCE, Dec. 3.
Employing great forces of in
fantry in succeeding waves
under terrific artillery concen-
tration, the Germans today
made second attempt ta
pierce the British defenses il
the Gonnelieu sectors. The
British, strongly reinforced,
were meeting the onslaught
firmly on all points, according
to the latest reports at 6
o'clock tonight.
The battle was along a con-
siderable front, from La Vac
querie southwark toward Vend-
huile. The Germans succeeded
in entering La Vacquerie, but
were Immediately elected.
In the course of the day the
attack spread northward to-
ward M4snieres. 1t was one OF
tremendous fierceness.
BY Tho Associated Press.
Extremely hard fighting, with the
Germans using great forces or infan-
try in mass formation, is taking place
alorg the southwestern and southeast
ern sections of the Cambrai salient.
In the region of Gonnelieu. La Vac
querie and southwark to Vendhuile
and northward toward Masnleres bat
ties waged with great fierceness thru
out Monday, but with the Germans no.
where successful In breaking the
British front. At La Vacquerie they
again succeeded in penetrating the VII
| lage from which they were elected
previously, but a strong counterattack
again turned the scales in favor OF
General Byngs forces. who threw out
| the enemy, infiicting heavy casualties
on him.
Using Masscd Formations.
| As in their previous attacks. the
| Germans used great masses of infan-
try but the British forces everywhere
met their onslaughts stoically and at
last accounts were firmly holding
their line at all points
| Altho the Germans in their offensive
have been using men reckoned at
twerty divisions. the British have been
at nOintg a
of the ground they lost in the Initial
attack, which was delivered with a
suddenness similar TO that of Byng's
| big drive toward Cambria. Sunday
night they had gained the eastern edge
of the village of Villers- -Guislaln and
driven out the Germans from La Vac
querie. They held this latter position
until Monday morning. when they
were compelled again to cede 1t to the
! enemy, only to take it again later In
the day Southwest of Bourbon village.
to the west of Cambria. the British
also have recovered lost terrain.
Germans Claim 5000 Prisoners.
The German war office asserts that
six thousand British have been made
prisoner during their drive and that
one hundred guns have been taken
from them. A large number OF the
guns already have been recaptured.
The four days battle is described as
the most sanguinary one that has
taken place since the days of Verdun
and the first battle of Ypres
Artillery duels are in progress be
tween the French and the Germans
north OF the Chemin des Danes and
in the Verdun sector. An attack by
the Germans north of Flirey In the
latter region was entirely without re-
suit. the Germans being driven back
by the French. suffering heavy cas-
ualties and leaving prisoners behind
them.
Likewise on the Italian front the
fighting Is mostly by means OF big
guns. the duels being intense on the
northern line In the hilly region be-
| ha u