The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-12-04
Germans Attack in Solid
Masses Which Are Riddled
to Pieces by Machine
Guns.
PILES OF DEAD SOLDIERS
Fresh Divisions Are Pouring In From
All Directions and Being
Flung Into the
Struggle.

LBy VIM. Philip simms, United Press
Staff Correspondent
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN.
THU FIELD, Dec. 4.-Americans were
again In action ap1md Cambria with
the British today.
They were members Of the same
American army engineering units VINO
on Saturday and Sunday were caught
between the lines and who threw
down their tools to grab British rifles.
The Americans have suffered some
losses, but their detachment is proud
OF opportunity to do it's bit and TO be
the first American unit to suner In
great battle.
The battle out OF Cambria continues
with unabating ferocity today. Fight
ing like wild cats, the British have
been stem1ng the enemy and where
they have been forced to give, way,
they have only done so in their own
good time, after repulsing all attacks.
This plan held at Masnieres. 1t has
been followed elsewhere.
The fields near Queant, around
Byng's new salient, down to Vendhuile
are piled with dead, Germans today.
Fifteen waves deep the enemy came
to the attack. In these solid phalanx-
like columns British artillery, machine
guns and rifles did fearful execution.
(. West Of Bourbon, one British ma
chine gunner fired seventy thousand
rounds on one gun in single day
and all at a range of not more than
200 yards. 1t was usually less than
that.
This was only one rapid fire gun out
of many directed at lne solid masses
0f he 1vt nc n0
to make an impression on the fifteen
waved lines. The dead dropped IN
piles, but other gray-coated fighters
nlled the gaps.
The exploit of a certain tank lieu
tenant is an example Of the British
spirit of Dattle The lieutenant's cap-s
tain, in charge Of the tank, was killed
early yesterday morning The lieu
tenant took command. A few hours
later at 1O:30 in the morning his tank
was hit squarely by German she'll,
Ting lieutenant got his men out OF
their steel wagon and had them en-
trench nearby.
Then alone, he-clambored back into
the tank and personally worked the
Lewis guns that stuck out of its par
bets In front. He worked them so rap
IDLY that they got red hot and he ran
out of ammunition. He had to leave
the tank
But the lieutenant was still anxious
to fight. He and his men found a
German machine gun nearby and with
it attacked 200 Germans. They held
the Germans until British infantry
painted UP and grabbed the enemy po-
sition. British officers who have been
brp Ob ha ,,,ilI
there never has been any heavier fight
ing than that which the Cambraf sec.
tor has seen for the last few days. At
tacks and counter attacks succeed
each other endlessIy-bringin the ac-
ton into one vast battle.
Today the most violent spot in the
fight was apparently around Lavac-
querie.
Field Marsnal Hindenburg is giving
Crown Prince Rupprecht fresh divis-
ions. They have been pouring in from
all directions Probably some Of them
are from Russia.
The Bavarian prince is flinging
them into the struggle in the old Ger
man style-masses upon masses.
From prisoners it seemed apparent
that Germany is exerting her utmost,
W lOTCe d uSclS-
ion before the Americans arrive.
Germans, Bavarians, Prussians and
grenadier guards-the very pick of the
Teutonfc forces-are in the German as
sault.
Envy Army Engineers.
AMERICAN FIELD HEADQUAR-
TIERS, France, DeA 4.-Every dough-
boy, every marine. every other sort of
an American fighting man now some