The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-12-06
FREESH|, Ia INF: .AI N 4
DIVISIONS CONE
To CAMBRIA ARC
Germans Assemble Troops in
Large Numbers for Second
Attempt to Crush Byng.
SENTIMENT OF BRITAIN
THOROUGHLY OPTIMISTIC
Lines May, Yield at Points to
Strengthen Positions But
Terrain Will Be Held,

40S4 64A W III DC 33C4Ns
With the British Armies in France,
Dec. 5-(By The Associated Press)-
There is no Indication that General
Van Der Marwitzs great offensive has
been abandon ed and the presence Of
further fresh infantry divisions in the
Cambria area, shows that the enemy
has not yet lost hope Of inflicting
sharp defeat on the british. =. The Brit,
ish line is now very strongly held, and
can Withstand any sleG2ehammer pres
sure and the ankle y-the natural ef-
feet of the first two days onslaught
has been followed by feeling of
cheerfulness and confidence.
The number Of British batteries has
been greatly Increase and their &C
curate cOunter-shelliAg OF the enemy's
strong artillery groups east Of the
Scheldt has effectively reduced their
activity. =. 60 ..h,Ea .l...,' -
The British airmen in clear weather
continue to dominate the German air
craft, and bomb marching infantry
and towns which have become new
raid heads. 's.s.''<siu 80 AK 2
REVIEW ~ GENERAL MAURICE.
London, Dec. 5.-Eritish troops, act
ing in conjunction with an efficient
force OF Russians, have carried out
successful operation in Mes0p0tamia,
Major General F. B. Maurice, chief d.
rector, of military operations at the
war Office, announced today. ...,
Speaking of the German attacks on
the British salient in the Cambria
area, General Maurice said: ...
"The enemy has to a certain .ex-
tent got us into an awkward position
and some adjustment of our line may
be necessary. We may have to make
slight Withdrawals on the north of
the salient" '&2 " 49, '
There is little doubt" continued
General Maurice, that the latest
German attacks in the Cambrai sec
tor have. been planned and superin-
tended by General Won Ludendorff
Won Ludendorff's plan was a thor
oughly good one, as most Of the
German plans are. 1t was an attack
on both TANKS 'of our salient, follow
ed by an attack in force on the center
i, Attacks that Fail. ..-,r.
Ills attacks on our north and cen
ter failed completely, but on his left
the enemy :, succeeded In breaking
through part Of our front He at
tackled not only our new front but
on part Of the line as it existed be-
fore. to the south. He succeeded in
effect1ng z surprise and broke through
to depth Of nearly 5000 yards
clear through our gun positions. But
we had ample reserves available and
promptly drove him back two thirds
Of the distance covered. 49,. ,.,
"One cannot say the Germans have
not made substantial gains as a re-
suit of this effort. When you are in
narrow salient even a small inroad
on ones. TANKS Increases greatly the
difficulty Of holding the salient and
supplying the men in it. The supply
to the men on certain portions OF our
front has now: become a matter Of
considerable difficulty. o., .-.... .
After. alluding to- the readjustment
OF the line that might be necessary
to some extent In this area, General
Maurice continued: -..,..- ,.,-
- Take British Guns.
For the first time in many day
the enemy captured some British
guns, the last British guns he captur.
ed being four from territorial bat
terry behind The French lines in the
battle of Ypres in May, 1915, during
the first gas attack. Since then we
had not lost & single gun on the east
ern front, and have captured $50 Of
the enemy's., of go" 80 were can
tured in 1917.
"The number of guns we captured
at Cambria is 1873. The Germans claim
10 0of ours, and am not yet able to
tell exactly no wtrne this claim is, as
complete returns from the batteries
are not yet in. but the promptitude of
the announcement ami the round num-
Der used leads to suspicicl., l believe
the Germans have included in the
count numbers of French mortars,
etc, and that therefore, this number
will be subject TO- a large discount on
investigation. The same probably is
true OF the 5000 prisoners which is,
claimed. a." '.!*. y;
In Mesopotamia we are continu-
Ing the policy Of striking wherever
the enemy gives US opportunity. We
have Just carried out this policy in
an operation of our right with the
full cooperation of Russian forces.
The success of the Russian arms here
shows that some portions of the Rus.
sian army are still willing and ready
to fight" ~.
- Checked In italy. r.. ~
General Maurice said that while
there had been much talk In the press