The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-28
Fierce BATTLE
FOR POSSESSION
OF FONTAINE IS
YET UNDECIDED
British Capture 1t in Morn
ing But Lose Part
Of 1t Later
GERMANS POUR
IN RESERVES
TeutOns Determined To
Hold Present Positions
AT All Costs

British Headquarters in France,
Tuesday. Nov. 27.-CBy The Asso-
ciated Press.) - Desperate and
sanguinary fighting has been raging
I'm and about FOnIaine Notre Dame
since dawn today, when the British
again attacked the strongly-held
village. Shortly after o'clock it
appeared that the assaulting infan-
try had stormed its way through the
village in the face of tremendous
hamlet and from LaFOlie wood to
the southeast. Five hundred Ger
man prisoners were taken in the
early hours of the lighting.
Late this afternoon the Germans
hurried up two new divisions and
threw them in for a counter attack
along the Fontaine- Bourbon wood
line. The fighting which followed in
Fontatne was even more bitter. il
possible, than that which occurred
in the first rush through the ruined
hamlet. At least reports superior
numbers of enemy infantry had
pushed the British back through the
village again TO the western and
northwestern outskirts, but the bat
tie still continued with unabated
fury.
In the meantime the British line
running around Bourbon wood to the
northwest was sustaining a heavy
assault. The enemy appeared 70 be
determined to regain this important
position IL il were humanity possible.
The whole front from Fontaine TO
Bourbon village was the scene OF
fierce fighting, which at many places
was at close quarters. The British
line En7YvInr xzFnnl fa aFs1f -.
tact.
The attack on Fontaine Notre
Dame was begun with the assistafs
OF b very neg - afu&3af, bafIags
and throughout the morning the
British gunners maintained an in-
tense fire against the German posi-
tions there. The onrushlng infantry
drove an entering wedge into the
northwestern part OF the village In
short time but they We're held up
here by a terrific rife and machine
gun fire TO which they We're subject
ed from every point of vantage.
Conditions were favorable to the
Germans for they were lighting on
the defensive In we'll prepared posi-
tions which could only be taken by
storm. Every machine gun was
equivalent TO several hundred rifles.
Despite the disadyantages the Brit
fish continued thf on lehght. IL NSs
a glorious exhih on ~ bulldog coure
age. They sur deBHa and in less
than three. hOl had pushed the
hard hitting q rmans back TO the
eastern side soi the village. leaving
enemy dead stnev ing the streets.
As the British fought forward and
suTrounded the various. buildings
containing enemy machine gunners,
many Germans were compelled 10
surrender or lose their ives.k BY
the time the eastern side Of the
village was reached 500 captives had
been collected and sent back.
The arrival OF a large body OF
German reinforcements put diff
ferent complexion on the situation.
These fresh troops Immediately coun-
ter attacked and the lighting through
the streets of Fontaine took on re-
newed vigor. The weary British re-
tired somewhat I'm the face Of this
selling each foot of ground
10 the enemy at a cruel price. The
western outskirts Of the village were
reached and here. according to latest
the battle continues.
Famous Tunnel Trench.
Some interesting features were
made known today concerning tbs
famous tunnel trench which the Brtt-
ISM no" nQiu III It's EhLA@N9 n9AtA
west of BuIleCourt. Part OF thus
fortificatiOn was cap~
tured in the fighting previous TO the
Camhrai push. but a large portion
was taken last week. The tunnel
which was built by Russian prison
ers. was a most amazing piece Of
work.
It was thirteen miles long and
forty feet deep. Entrances We're
driven into it every thirty-five yards
and the Germans lighted the entire
place with electricity The tunnel
was mined at intervals throughout
its length but the bsitish quickly
the electric wires lead
ing to the mines and they were
rendered useless.