The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-11-23
Germans Desperate.

Germans Desperate. U.S..
Some of the fiercest hand to hand
fighting of the war has been going on.
The enemy troops were unprepared
for the attack, but they have been put.
ting every ounce OF tleir strength In.
to an attempt to stem the rising tide.
Troops have been pulled away from
other points and rushed to the Cam
brai sector by tie desperate Germans
and so hard pressed were they for
men that two companies Of cripples
ana cOnvalescents were recruited has.
tily at one camp and thrown into The
line. Some OF these pitiful objects
are in British hands, and are receiy.
ing medical attention. One prisoner
was in the last stages of tuberculosis
and had 10 be moved to prevent tho
disease from spreading to the others,
who were In state OF cruel ex:iaus.
ton and virtually helpless from their
valient attempts to fight under the
lash OF their unrelenting officers.
Like BattIefiesds Of Wars Gone by.
Tho great battlefield has taken on
the aspect Of scenes In wars gone by.
1t is no longer conflict OF trenches
and shell holes, but OF men struggling
bitterly with rifles and bayOnets over
a virgin battle-ground, while tue long
neglected cavalry sweeps In piCtur-
esque charges on enemy's ground.
The roads everywhere for two days
have been swarming with prisoners
nd Ia" hn frnn n
front. Many rejoicing noncombat.
ants, men, women and children have
been pouring out OF the captured
towns under the guidance of their de.
liverers from German bondage.
Pathetic scenes. ..''.s,
This has been battle of strange
sights, but no more striking spectacle
has been witnessed than that OF these
people marching toward. their homes
and back to comforts of the British
front. Through the very gaps which
the tanks lad torn, in the famous
Hindenburg line, mothers yesterday
and today were pushing baby car:
riages containing infants, or tramp.
ing happily along with babies clutch.
ed close to their breast Besidestbem
toddled other youngsters, many OF
them carrying their treasured dolls
and not few clinging to squirming
puppies, which they dared not trust
to run on the ground. Old men and
women were bringing away all the
household effects they could pack on
pushcarts or carry on their backs.
Three Years in Slavery. l..-.
For three years some OF them had
been in slavery, or in captivity.
Hard fighting has taken place today
at Crevecouer The British were
holding high ridge in front OF this
place and some troops had forced IN
entrance into the western part OF the
town. The Germans were still hold
ing the eastern section. A German
battery here which had been giving
trouble was charged and captured.
The battery was surrounded by heavy
balbed wire entanglements, preclud'
ing the use Of horses, 50 the soldiers
stormed the position on foot and an.
Inflated the gun crews. 49,
Heavy Fighting Proceeds. -
In the region of Kumly, heavy ma.
CNluC Gun dHu IIllC lighting "oS VAS
ceeding last night and this morning.
West of Cambria tanks, cavalry,
and infantry, were pressing the A.
tack vigorously about Fontaine, NOtre
Tame, and the strong position In Bur-
lon wood Fontaine, NOtre Dame, has
not been officially reported captured
as yet, but the story goes that tank
crews were served with hot coffee
there this morning.
Further north near Eullecourt, the
British were in possession Of the en-
tire underground fOrtification known
as the tunnel trench which had been
famed for its supposed impregna o'l.
ity. At least five determined counter
attacks have been smashed In this
region.
The last line OF trench defenses, In
the region of Cantaiag has beeu
broken and the British today were
firmly established at many points In
the Masnieres Beaurios line south OF
Cambria
Surrendered Freely.
German resistance on the first dav
was comparatively light as a whole,
and they surrendered freely, in many
places. Yesterday their lines stihened
and hard fighting followed. German
reinforcements from Lens and the two
companies of invalids already mention
ed were thrown into the lines. -
The first counter attack came over
the ridge from the northeast OF MAS
ineres. The enemy advanced In mass
ed formation as in the early days OF
the war. The British had concen.
CONTINUED on Pass Thteel