New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-02
Germans Gain 5000
Yards in South, but
Are Elsewhere
Repulsed
Haig's Men Blow
Cannon to Pieces
English Airmen Spray
Advancing Teutons
With Machine
Gun Fire

LONDON, Dec. General Byng's
men have recaptured Gonnelieu and the
st. Quentin spur south Of tha: village,
restored their line completely on the
north side Of the Cambrai salient, taken
several hundred prisoners, and entirely
frustrated the German plan for great
counter offensive, Field Marshal Haig
reported tonight.
This afternoon the Germans again
attacked on the line of Masnieres, Mar
Going Fontaine, Bourbon and Moeuvres.
but were unable TO gain ground. Severe
struggles continue on wide front.
The German official statement to-day
declared the counter offensive had been
complete success" and that 1000
prisoners and many guns had been capt
ured.
Germans Gain 5000 Yards
Unofficial advices from the front to-
night say the Germans are still in pos
session Of villers-Guislain, on the
south side Of the sale.t, representing
net gain of 5000 yards.
In November. Haig reports. the Brit
ish took 1851 prisoners, 1873 guns, in
cluding 40 heavy guns, 303 machine
guns and 81 trench mortars. besides
great quantities Of other war material.
The German plan for the counter Of
fsnsive is revealed in \ captured order
issued November go by General Won der
Morwitz, commander of the Second
German Army, and quoted in Haig's
statement.
The captured orders, issued by Gen.
eral Vondermorwitz. read: Soldiers OF
the Second Army: The English, by
throwing into the fight countless tanks
on November 20, gained victory near
Cambria. Their intention was to break
through but they did not succeed in
doing so, thanks to the brilliant resist
ance Of our troops who we're put into
the line TO check their advance.
"We are now going to turn their en-
bryonic victory into defeat by an en-
circling counter attack. The Father
land is watching you and expects every
man to do his duty
Advanced In Masses
From Vendhuille, in the south, to
point 12 miles west of Moeuyres, in
the north, or a front of about eighteen
miles, the enemy advanced in masses,
says Haig, and tried to break through
by weight Of numbers.
Above Masnieres the British posi-
tions, despite temporary losses, are to-
day intact and enormous losses were
inflicted when the British field guns
caught the enemy point blank.
Indicating the extensiyeness Of the
auxiliary fighting in the air, an
official report issued here tonight
said British aviators yesterday
fired more than $1,000 rounds from
machine guns on enemy troops and
transports behind the line, while fifteen
German planes were brought down,
three others driven down out Of con-
troll. and seven British machines are
missing.
The crisis Of the battle, according TO
accounts received here tonight, was
reached when the Germans, breaking
through the British lines south Of VII
ers-Guislain, swung their left flank
around strongly and enyeloped Gsuehe
Wood, Gouzeaucourt, Gonnelieu and La
Vacquerie. Gouzeaucourt Is consider
ably behind the British line held be-
fore the recent offensive. -,
The British rallied quickly under this
threat of disaster They almost i'm
mediateiy counter attacked the enemy
masses, retaking Gouzeaucorrt, La
Vacquerie and Gauche Wood. and
throwing the foe back as far as VIII
lers-Guislain and Gonnelieu.