The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1917-12-08
AREA ABANDONED
TO GERMANS MADE
INFERNO BY GAS
and Big SHELLS
(By Associated Press.)

British Headquarters in France,
Friday, Dec. THE Germans today
continued their work Of reoccupying
the devastated area bequeathed to
them by the British when General
Byng made his withdrawal from the
Cambria salient.
1t was an unsavory task that fac
cd the enemy. The Bourbon wood
still was reeking with poisonous gas;
Graincourt, Anneux. Cantatng, Noy-
elles, Marcoing and Masnieres were
q waste of ruins. and the low lying
ground on which the Germans ap-
parently had planned to dig their
new trenches was overlooked by the
British positions.
Into this desert the. big gums were
hurting tons OF explosiHl ana ma
chine gunners were whtpping q con Z.
stant stream of bullets into the
ranks Of the enemy sent forward
prospecting for desirable points
available for defense. Meanwhile the
major portion of the British army
was sitting comfortably in their new
home, their consolidation virtually
having been completed, before they
started to retire at midnight Tues
day.
Part Of their work was done for
them by the Germans in the famous
Hindenburg trenches. The wonder
full German dugouts and the network
Of front line and communication
trenches were all at the disposal Of
the Tommies.
Wear Masks Constantly.
The British who held Bourbon
wood so calamity were compelled to
wear gas masks most of the time
they were in the forest. The ground
was swampy In many places and the
whole wood was covered with under
brush. These two features resulted
in gas hanging about the wood in
clouds all the time. In some points
1t was perilous even to remove the
mask to eat or drink and this neces-
STATED frequent relief. 1t was also
extremely difilcult TO dig in as every
time a spadeful of earth was turned
the soggy soil gave out more gas.
Yet il is believed the British could
have maintained the wood IL IL had
been necessary and advisable.
1t is impossible, of course, to give
an adequate estimate Of the number
of German troops employed in the
operations along the new battle line
since General Byng began his push
on Nov. 20. but 1t Is probably not far
out of the way to say that the en-
emy had something like 250,O00 men.
Not all We're actually engaged in the
fighting as some were used as relief.
The British withdrawal leaves the
British in full possession OF the Hin
denburg line between the Nord canal
and Villers-Ploui
Something like two thousand Ger
mans were killed at one place north
wFmw#aVaanwF n hEY
British artillery fire. These had
pushed forward and were exerting
pressure against the British near
Orival wood. The British fell back
slightly and the Germans also retired
to a position behind the wood, where
they assembled in large numbers.
Yesterday afternoon the Germans
also attacked again about La Vac
querie, but were repulsed with ma
chine gun fire. The British still hold
the high ground near here and the
Germans continue infantry assaults
in an attempt to oust the defenders.
British Well Satisfied.
British Army Headquarters in
France. Friday, Dec. 7.-Distinct
satisfaction was felt along the British
front today at the success Of the re-
tirement In the Cambria sector. The
world will never know the full story
Of the heroism displayed by General
Byng's men in holding Bourbon wood,
fighting and working day and night
In gas helmets.
As long as the British artillery is
able TO continue the heavy lombard
ment OF Bourbon wood such as is
now being carried on tt is probable
the wood WIN not be free from reek-
ing and poisonous fumes.
The Germans have been losing
heavily. They are suffering what the
British might have suffered had the
Germans discovered that the retire
ment was impending. The British
rear guards were Withdrawn in Sec
tions leaving the enemy puzzled as
TO the exact situation and the con-
stant artillery and rife FIRE Of the
British together with their assaults
confused the enemy. Every British
gun and every piece Of ammunition
was removed safely.