Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-05-11

nor has it caused surprise, said Major
General Frederick B. Maurice, chie1
director OF military operations at the
war; office, in his weekly talk with the
Associated Press. As matter Of fact
/ the n nvaSrSi added. the British stan
has been surprised that the Germans
have not succeeded before in making
gains in view Of the tremendous coun
ter attacks which they have been
hurling against the British front. The
chief director continued:
GERMANS DISREGARD COST.
Bodies Of Teutons continually have
been sent against the British over
open ground without any apparent re
gard for casualties, but the British
have held their fine when it might
have been expected they would give
way and have inflicted tremendous
losses on their opponents.
"The Germans have hurled great re
serves into the Arras conflict, employ.
ing people from Belgium, Poland and
other conquered territory to release
more Germans for military service
The British have forced the Germans
TO use up twice az many reserves az
were employed in the somme often
sive which ranks next to the present
one in magnitude"
ALLIES MAKE GAINS.
While today's official reports throw
little additional Night on the situation
around Fresnoy, where the heaviest
fighting in the Arras battle has occur
red this week, they reveal important
gains for the British and French at
other points on the front In northern
France.
London's announcement Of British
progress south Of the Souchez river
means a further pushing back Of the
German lines Immediately south OF
Lens, tightening the hold Of the nip.
pers which the British are applying to
this important Industrial town and coal
district.
eULLEcoURT REGION YIELDS.
Further inroads also have been made
upon the German positions near Bulle-
court, on the Hindenburg line, Just
west Of its point OF junction with the
Queant- -Drocourt switch, where the
Germans. although reported nearly
surrounded. are stubbornly clinging to
the town.
Far to the south on the British front,
two miles north Of st. Quentin, Gener-
al Haig's troops have pushed eastward
from Gricourt. They are right s.op
the St. Quentin-Cambrai road at this
point.
The French, like the British, have
made no new general attack, but they
are delivering thrust here and there
and making valuable headway in pre-
pairing the ground for the next drive.
LOSSES ARE HEAVY.
The battle for Fresnoy continues to
rage with a fury which recalls the
bloody struggles for Forts Douamont
and vaux in the days Of the battle of
Verdun. Thousands of lives are being
poured out for the mastery of the
little heap of ruins that was once a
village and the blackened, blasted
stumps that were once a wood until
Fresnoy threatens to rank with Vimy
in the price paid for it's possession.
The great importance Of the position
is due to the fact that 1t forms the last
important defense to the northern end
of the Drocourt-Q -Queant line and also
covers the only remaining railroad to
Lens, connecting the coal city with the
main German line to the south
The Drocourt- -Queant line traverses
one side Of a railroad triangle which
has Lens, Arras and Vitry at its re-
epective angles. All of one side of this