South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-19
CANADIANSPR
STONE WALL FOR
GERMAN ATTACKS
TeutOnS Get Orders to Retake
Hill 70 AT All Costs,
But Cold Steel De-
MES Them.
Associated Press Service

Associated Press Service.
BRITISH FRONT ~ FRANCE
AND BELGIUM, Aug. 1S.-Late
reports regarding the German
counter attack this morning against
the Canadian positions northwest Of
Lens show it was a desperate at
tempt TO regain territory lost by
the invader in the great British
assault of Wednesday GermaA pris-
oners say word had been passed 10
them that they must retake hin 20
at any cost, and the ferceness of the
German counter attacks since this
hill was wrested from them and
British positions established in
front of it indicate that this state
ment is true
The Germans yesterday after
noon launched infantry attacks
against this northwest section of the
Canadian defense accompanied by
flaming machines and a hurricane
Of gas shells. They We're hurled
back with cold steel after suffer
ing heavy losses.
They again advanced during the
evening against the suburb of St
Emile and at Hugo wood to the
north and the second time they
were forced 10 fall back.
Canadians "A Stone Wall.
This morning at 1870 the heavy
action began along the entire line
north of Lens. the Germans she'll
ing the British infantry with a con-
centrated artillery fire. In the fierce
hand TO hand fighting that ensued
the Germans repeatedly hurled
themselves against the Canadians.
but the defenders held like a stone
wall, the attackers finally fell back
exhausted and with their numbers
greatly reduced. Many bodies lying
i'm front of the Canadian trenches
indicated how severe had been the
German losses.
The Canadians had been engag-
ed in many sanguinary fights be-
fore this. but the battle that has
RACED about Lens since the capture
OF hill 20 is the most bitter these
troops ever experienced More
over, never had they used the bay
onet so much as in this present
encounter
Much of the fighting has been of
hand 20 hand nature, ia a maze of
concerted cellars and deep dugouts
from which the Germans poured
streams of machine gun bullets.
Lens "A City of Cement.
Lens and the numerous colliery
suburbs about IL virtually form
city Of cement. Nearly all the build
ings have been destroyed by the
Germans and the ruins tuped into
fortified. machine gun emplace-
ments. Dugouts were found on hill
20 extending 20 a depth of % feet.
and similar honeycombed under
ground structures We're found in the
suburbs. through which the Ca
nadians had 20 battle their way TO
their present positions
The Germans. according 20 pris-
oners' statements were dismayed at
the loss Of hill 20 which dominates
the city Of Lens and the territory
20 the north. The cost Of life appar-
emily meant nothing 20 them in
their dLLtllA RNS 10 REGAIN inns 4lll-
portant eminence. This was evident
on the first day Of the battle when
an entire division OF Prussian
guards was sent against the Cana
dams in successive waves until viz
tually the entire division Law dead
in front OF the defenders machine
guns.
Time and time again they dupli-
Gated that Inflated attack by the
guards. but I'm all their attempts
they did not gain a foot OF ground
and have lost still further positions
20 the Cave dams