Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-03
Heaviest Casualties of War
Mark FruitIess Attempts
to Break Line.
ENGLISH TAKE HUNDREDS
OF PRISONERS, HOLD WOOD
American Soldiers Aid in Terrific
Battle, Are Captured and Escape.
Boches Use Seven Divisions.

By the Associated Press.
tacks delivered yesterday evening against
our positions in the neighborhood of
Moeuvres Cambria sector) were re-
pulsed after sharp fighting" says to-
days official report.
Successful minor encounters during
the night in the neighborhood of Bour-
lon resulted in the capture by London
troops of twelve German machine guns
and a number Of prisoners.
Beyond considerable artillery ac-
tivity by both sides on the southern bat,
tie front there is nothing further to
report"
By the Associated Press.
BRITISH ARMY HEADQUARTERS
IN FRANCE, December 3.-British
troops last night reoccupied a section
of a trench on the high ground south
west on Bourbon village, on the Cam
brai front. which was lost Friday. The
town of Masnieres. which was evac-
uated by the British. was shelled last
night by British artillery.
Gen. Byng's troops last night pressed
near to the village of Villieres-Guis-
lain and along the ridge southwest OF
that place and their line now is fairly
near the town.
about twenty divisions for their assault
on Friday. which. except for the first
Ypres battle, regarded as having been
their heaviest attack on the British:
The Germans attacked the British
of Cambria. at S:45 o'clock this morn
ing and an hour later it was reported
that they had been successfully beaten
off. Today's attack followed three fu-
tile attempts made by the enemy to
Loss of Life Gigantic.
LONDON, December 3-The Reuter-
at British headquarters
in France sends the following:
The Germans delivered no less than
fifteen attacks against our positions
in La Vacquerie Saturday. Those in a
more Germans opposite La VacQuerie
in twelve hours than in any other spot
in the same time during the whole
course of the war.
BY far the greater proportion OF
guns abandoned in the first German
onset on Friday have been recaptured;
the others were disabled. The amount
of territory the Germans gained at the
sacrifice Of thousands of lives is so
trifing that tactically the situation re-
1T is understood that many, of the
troops engaged on the railway, near
Gouzeaucourt were American engi-
neers.
French Report Artillery Activity.
PARIS, December 3-Somewhat vio-
lent artillery activity on the Aisne
nounced in today's war office report.
Otherwise there were only intermit-
tent cannonading and raiding opera
lions. The text reads:
I'm the region of st. Quentin and
north Of Posses wood enemy raids
upon our small posts were successfully
repealed.
Between the Annette and the Aisne,
in the region east OF Rheims and on
the right bank of the Mouse there was
the course Of the night. The cannon
aiding was intermittent on the remain
der of the front"
Germans Claim 5000 Prisoners.
BERLIN, December 8, via London
Since Friday the Germans have cap
tured 5000 British prisoners in the
stan announced today. The guns taken
numbered 100.
Nine Attacks Repulsed.
LONDON. December 2.-The Germans
made desperate efforts yesterday to in
counter attack on the Cambria front, and
were defeated with heavy losses To-
days official communication reports nine
separate attacks were made on the Brit
ish positions near Masnieres, south of
Cambria. The statement follows:
..In the course of the fighting yester-
day in the neighborhood OF Masnieres
the enemy delivered no less than nine
separate attacks upon our positions in
and around the village. All were beaten
Off with heavy losses to the enemy In
the last attack detachments of German
infantry succeeded in gaining a foothold
in the adjoining village of Les Rues
Vertes. on the west bank OF the canal De
Lescaut. but were driven out by our
counter attacks.
Hostile raiding parties were repulsed
during the night in the neighborhood OF
Avion and south OF Armentieres. We Sc
cured a few prisoners"
Take 300 Prisoners.
By the Associated Press.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE. December 1.-The British
yesterday and last night continued
their counter offensive operations in
the Gonnelcu sector. which was over
run by the Germans Friday in an at
tempt to wrench off the salient which
the British last week drove in about
Bourbon wood.
The hopping up of GonneIcu, which
was recaptured by Haig's troops Sat
urday, was completed during the night.
About 800 prisoners were taken In this
place Fifty prisoners also were
brought out of Les Rues vertes after
British counter attack, and all told
the Germans lost many hundreds of