South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-11-25
WOOD
WEST OF CITY
NEAR CAPTURE
Bloody Struggle on Slopes
Goes Against Germans
FOntaine is Reported
AbIaze.
Associated Press Service

Associated Press Service:
BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE, Nov. 24-Bourlon wood
which dominates Cambria from the
west, is probably in British hands
this morning as a result of the sang
uinary struggle waged yesterday on
its slopes. Bourbon village, at the
northwest fringe of the forest. was
still held by the Germans who
fought bitterly all day against the
advancing troops The enemy also
retained his hold on the village of
Fontaine about which intense fight
ing proceeded throughout Friday.
The latest information from this
place was that il was ablaze.
The British yesterday advanced
their line still further to the west
Of Moeuvres and there were meagre
reports indicating that this place
was very closely invested. Many
more German guns have been found
among the material captured, the
number being estimated at about
100.
More Prisoners Come In.
Prisoners were still coming back
this morning. The correspondent
passed two squadrOns Of mud-mear.
ed Germans near the British front
who were being brought back to the
cages.
The fighting yesterday at Bourbon
%
a most desperate nature. Bourbon
wood and the village are situated OF
high ground which affords extensive
observation in all directions. The
forest itself comprises 500 acres and
while the ground is dry it is covered
with a heavy underground, making
IN advance up the slopes difficult. The
British troops yesterday morning
were holding a line on the low
ground about the southern fringe oil
the wood. and from these position.
it was necessary 10 charge up the
slopes in the face Of a tremendou.
concentration of machine guns.
Tanks Help Infantry.
The infantry cooperating with
the tanks, pushed forward in the
morning and hard lighting ensueC
Immediately. BY 1 o'clock in th'
afternoon they had battled forward
half way through the wood and tw,
hours later the infantry were Occu
plying a line through the center O.
the wood and 10 the northwest O
Fontaine.
At moor, tho C.arr,,opS baga,, NM
| ting a heavy artillery and machin'
- gun barrage along the roads TO tn
south Of the wood rendering com
munication with the advancing
! troops more difficult Hand TO han,
! lighting with bayonets began almos
as soon as the British entered tn
| forest This continued with grea
Iferceness throughout the afternoon
the assaulting troops gradually fore
ing the Germans back foot by foo
howard the northern edge of the for
est
Whether the wood is firmly il
British hands now IS not absolutel,
certain but the enemy still retain
his hold on the village. which }
| strongly fortified with rapid fresz
Counter Attacks Fail.
| Late in the afternoon the Ger
mans delivered a determined cOun
ter attack from the north ia 81
attempt TO Dust the British but tn
latter held firm and drove the Ger
mans back
/ In the meantime a fierce confliC
was proceeding near FOntaine. tn
| Germans were defending this plac
with rifles and machine guns whicl
they fired from the roofs and win
dOws OF the houses.
About $50 in the afternoon tank
were reported 10 have forced al
entrance and the place was said q
be in flames The Germans wer
liable 70 maintain themselves in tn
/ village. however. and were still
| there at the latest reports
Two counter attacks in the neigh
borhood OF Cantaing were smasheI
| yesterday afternoon. The British
made a slight advance in this &c
| gfOn during the day