The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1917-05-11
British Troops Forced to With
draw After FierCeiy Resist
ing Counter Attacks.
BOTH ARMIES LOOSE HEAVILY
French Repulse Desperate Attempts
Of Teutcns to Recapture Positions
Recently Taken by Nivelle.

London, May y.-Ine defnlans lO-
day in the n%eighborhood Of Fresnoy
succeeded, after heavy counter at
tacks, in gaining a footliold in the Brit
ish trenches northeast of the village.
Later, however, the British in a
ter attack regained the lost ground.
Still later in the morning east of
Fresnoy the Germans returned to the
attack with two fresh divisions. The
British stubbornly resisted, but finally
were compelled to withdraw from
Fresnoy village and wood.
First Attack Failed.
This information is contained in the
official communication issued tonight,
which says:
"The enemy made heavy counter at
tacks this morning upon III positions
in the neighborhood of Fresnoy. In
the firstN of these they succeeded in
gaining a foothold in our trenches
northeast of the village, but the
ground lost was shortly afterward re-
gained by our counter attack
Later in the morning a second at
tack in force was delivered by two
fresh German divisions east of Fres-
noy. On the right of the front at
tackled the enemy's troops were re-
pulsed with heavy casualties and our
positions successfully maintained.
Germans Hide Losses.
Paris, May 9.-The Germans today
desperately stormed the positions cap
tured by the French to the south of
Berry-au-Bac, but they made no i'm
preston. What was left of the strong
attacking waves was forced to retire,
leaving behind many dead and 120
prisoners in the hands of the French.
Further groups of prisoners fell into
the French net at other points as a re-
suit Of various raids, bringing the to-
tai of unwounded Germans taken pris.
oner to between 10000 and 10000
since April 16. A German wireless
message. dated May 2, declares;
"The total number Of Germans un-
accounted for in the battles between
April s and 20, including dead and
wounded left on the field and prison.
ers, reached 1900"
Heavy German Losses.
London, May S.-The official report
from British headquarters in France
tonight reads:
This afternoon the enemy launched
his third counter attack with consider
able forces upon our new positions
south of the Souchez river. The first
wave of assault to reach the slope in
front Of our trenches was there de-
stroyed by our rifle and machine gun
fire. The supporting waves caught by
our artillery barrage were broken up.
No Germans reached our trenches.
This morning a strong body of the
enemy was caught in the open in the
neighbofhood of Bullecourt by our ar
tillery and machine gun fire, suffer
ing heavy casualties.
Successful work was done by our
airplanes yesterday in spite Of a
strong wind. Six German airplanes
we're brought down, one of which fell
within our lines. One other enemy
machine was driven down out of con.
troll. Three of u machines are miss
ing"
French Enlarge Gains.
Paris. May S.-The official commun.
ication issued by the war office to
night reads.
1.-THE enemy did not renew his at
tempts in the region north of Moulin
f de Laffaux or on the Chemin-des
Danes. Violent artillery fighting con
tinued, particularly near Hurtebise
and the sector Of Craonne, where oul
troops consolidated their positions OF
, the California Plateau.
: According to prisoners taken OF
, that part Of the front, four fresh regi
ments which participated in the fruit
less attacks last night on this plateau
suffered very heavy losses.
: Northwest of Reims we carried on
an isolated operation which enable,
us appreciably to enlarge u posi-
tions south Of Sapigneul. About on
u hundred prisoners, Of whom two werI
officers, remain in our hands"
Beat OFF German Attacks.
Paris, May 7.-Not only have til
last two days Of fighting along tn
Chemin-des-D Danes delivered NOR
/ than six thousand prisoners to tn
French, but have given them pos
tons whence they can operate on tn
principal German defensive line occ,
: plying the crest on the northern sid
of the Ailette Valley.