Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-12-05
TEuToNs MAKE SMALL GAIN
Foes Suffered Terrible Losses-kaiser
Pays Big Price For Little Terri.
tory - American Engineers
Again Take Part in Fight.

London, Dec. GA lull in the battle
on the Cambria front, after the terrific
fighting of the last few days, Is re-
ported by the war Office.
With the British Army in France,
Dec. 5.-That Field Marshal Haig pre-
vented the Germans from breaking
through his lines on the Cambria front
discounts the small gains which the
enemy hosts achieved on Monday at
terrible cost Of life.
1t means that the critical period has
been successfully passed and that for
the second time in four days Field
Marshal Haig thwarted what is be-
lieved to have been German attempt
to duplicate the German-Austro-Hun-
garian performance in ITALY.
Germans were collected from the
eastern theater and warriors parts of
the German line in the west. At La
Vacquerie the enemy fought his way
through the town, and one party pene-
trated for some hundred yards into
British territory. This was the ex-
IRENE gain.
The attacking forces secured a very
narrow strip of ground little north
and south of La Vacquerie, but the
British still chung grimly to the high
ground north of this place.
The British commander voluntarily
pulled back his line to the west and
southwest Of Masnieres to make 1t
firmer. Tuesday morning the British
line was near the western part of Mar
Going cOpse, but included MARCHING {;
small triangular piece of territory,
therefore, has been sacrificed by the
British. Since eight o'clock Monday
night the line has remained unchanged.
A heavy concentration Of German
guns east Of Councillor suffered great
ly by the excellent British counter
battery work. Things appeared much
brighter in the British camp in the
morning. The battle probably has not
yet run its course, but the defenders
from now on will be in much better
shape to handle the situation.
500 Taken, Says Berlin.
Berlin, Dec. 5.-Baden troops
stormed and held La Vacquerie, south
west of Cambria, it is announced Off
cially. Five hundred prisoners are said
to have been taken.
"Between MarcOing and the PerOnne-
Cambria road we captured stubbornly
defended sections of English trenches
by untiring grenading and bayoneting,"
the war office declared. "The enemy
endeavored to retake them in vain. In
the region Of Cambria there was minor
fighting.
70, "North of Cheluvelt an English at
tack was thrown back" the statement
said of the Flanders fighting.
French HurI Germans Back.
Paris, Dec 5.-On the Verdun front
west of the Meuse the Germans at
tempted to approach French positions,
but were thrown back, the war office
announces. On the Champagne front
heavy artillery fighting is in progress.
~. S. Troops In Fight.
With the British Armies in the Field,
Dec. 5.-Americans were again in ac-
ton around Cambria with the British.
They were members Of the same
American army engineering units who
on Saturday and Sunday were caught
between the lines, and who threw down
their tools to grab British rifles.
The Americans have suffered some
losses, but their detachment Is proud
of the opportunity to do its bit and to
be the first American unit to suffer In
a great battle.
italians Hold Foe.
Rome, Dec. 5.-Infantry activity on
the Italian front has not been renewed,
although the Austro- Germans are busy
with troop movements behind the lines,
probably in preparation for supreme
blow against the Italian northern front.
Large Teuton forces have been in
motion north Of the Asiago plateau and
between the Brenta and the Piave, but
they have kept beyond the reach Of
Italian guns. Artillery activity con-
tinues heavy.
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