The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-12
FELL WOUNDED
AS VICTORY IF
THE CANADIANS
WAS CL|NCHED
CASUALTIES OF THE
CANUCKS 1900 MEN
Violent Snowstorm of We'd
nesday Checks British
Advance.

OTTAWA, April 1.-THE Stars
and Stripes went into battle for
the first time during tho world
war during the recent entente
stormins Of Viny ridge in France,
according to an unofficial despatch
received here today from Cana
dian army headquarters in Europe.
ITO a young Texan who came to
Ontario to enlist and who is now
lying wounded in the hospital"
the despatch reads. "be longs the
honor Of first carrying the Amerl-
can flag into battle in the Euro
pean war into which the United
. States as a beiliserent has just
entered. He went up to the as
sault at Thelus. carrying the Stars
and Stripes on his oayonet and
fell thus"
The despatch says the victory
Of the Canadians in the struggle
for "Viny ridge is more thorough
than Indicated by first reports
The only obscurity as late as
Tuesday morning surrounded the
position of Hill 145.
"For the retention Of thls." the
message says. "the enemy fought
with the utmost determination on
Monday afternoon. The hill is an
earthen fortress of the first i'm
~portaace with many underground
galleries, and concrete machine
gun implacements. The hill is iso-
lated on three sides from the Ger
man lines. The surrender is not
in doubt.
"Much war material was left be-
hind by the fleeing foe, including
an as yet unestimated number OF
heavy guns. The yield Of prls-
oners is much larger than the first
reports indicated. Already 3,2So
men, including sixty officers, have
been recorded and many more are
to come. The final total may
reach 1000 prisoners to the Cana
dian troops alone"
Advices to the militia depart
rcent indicate the Canadian easu-
alties arouned Vlmy were os Of
ficers. At the usual percentage
this would mean about 1.2O0 men.
The fioures are considered light
in view of the number engaged.
A violent snowstorm has served 10
he moment to hold in leash the Bril-
sh forces which since early Sunda
aoruing had been hammering tn
Germans hard along the Arras-Len
ront. Low-iyinG clouds and thickl
alling snow greatly impeded tn
movement of the troops Wednesday.
In the early hours OF the mornlnj
he village and the heights OF Monchy
.epreux, east of Arras, fell into tn
,ands OF the British and were he'll
.espite two counter-attacks deliTere
" the Germans, according to LondoI
70 the north of this position Berll
eoorts the repulse with heavy cai
,alties of British infantry and car
.lry attacks near Fa mpouI an
lueuX.
The London communication say
hat in the neighborhood OF Bulle
ourt, west Of Cambria, Field Marsha
Iaie's troops penetrated a Germal
,osition but later were counter-a
acked BY superior forces and cou
Yelled 10 return to their former pos
;ous. OF this fighting and also OF
,uttle near Hardecourt (Harslcourt)
northwest of St. Quentin. Berlin say
thousand British prisoners AM
twenty-five guns were taken.
Near ST. Quentin, from scissors {
Rheims and eastward into the Cham
,agne violent artillery duels are heinj
ought between the French and III
iermanS.
The American flag is now officiall
'yer the front in France. The La
ayette flying corps. composed mainl,
{ American airmcn. is 10 adopt IN
american uniform and carry the Star
nd Stripes during their incursion
(Couttnued on PaGe Teu-D