Evening star., 1917-12-08
lULL IN FIGHTING
IN CAMBRIA REGION
British Improve Positions Near
La Vacquerie, Taking Some
Trenches.
FOE USES 250yOO0 MEN


There is a lull in the fighting around
Cambrai and the Germans have made
no attacks In force against the new
British positions. North OF La Vac
querie British troops captured German
trenches, improving the line in this
neighborhood. Berlin reports success
full fighting around Graincourt.
1t is estimated from British head
quarters in France that at least $780,
900 German troops took part in the
latest operations in the Cambria Sec
tor.
British Seize Trenches.
The British official communication.
issued last evening. says:
"a successful local operation was
carried out today north OF La Vac
querie (Cambrai sector). Trenches
constituting our objective were cap
tured by the Ulster troops. making
considerable improvement in our line
at this point.
southeast of Ypres our patrols last
night successfully attacked hostile work
ing parties. Northeast Of Ypres hos
tile raid was repulsed and number Of
| casualties were lnLlCteQ ON tut SHcLlJ.
In these encounters prisoners were
taken"
Guns Active on Meuse.
PARIS. December s.-"There was active
artillery fighting last night on the right
bank Of the Meuse, particularly in the
mont neeo and Ssse in sse region of Hi sa says
todays official announcement. In the
region south Of senones the Germans at
tempted to raid one Of our small posts.
"The night was comparatively quiet on
the remainder OF the front"
Forced to Fight in Masks.
By the Associated Press.
BRITISH ARMY HEADQUARTERS
IN FRANCE, Friday, December 7.-Dis-
tinct Satisfaction was felt along the
British front today st the success Of
The world will never know the full
story of the heroism displayed by Gen.
Byng's men in holding Bourbon wood,
fighting and working day and night In
gas helmets. Naturally the reliefs were
frequent. but even under these condi-
tions it was exceedingly trying to
work with the face inclosed in the
airtight headpiece, probably having
about the same effect as a divers he'll
met. The men went about their work
peel1uS tHIOuSH eye plcCcS anu tdktu8
commands by signals.
As long as the British artillery is
able to continue the heavy lombard
ment of Bourbon wood such as Is now
being carried on 1t Is probable the
wood will not be free from reeking and
poisonous fumes.
Germans Losing Heavily.
The Germans have been losing heav-
lily in men ever since they started to
follow the British retirement. They
are now suffering what the British
might have suffered had the Germans
discovered that the retirement was i'm
pending and launched an attack at an
opportune time. The British rear
leaving the enemy puzzled as to the
exact situation. and the constant artil-
lery and rifle fire of the British, to-
gether with their patrol assaults, con-
and every piece Of ammunition was
removed safely.
After the main body Of troops had
been withdrawn a few hardy Tommies
who had been left behind blew up the
explosions at about daylight wednes.
day gave the Germans their first inti-
nations that something unusual was
afoot.
German air scouts have been work.
British airmen are INCREASINGLY
active.
The Germans today continued their
work of reoccupying the devastated
area bequeathed to them by the Brit
ish when Gen. Byng made his with
drawal from the Cambria salient.
Have an Unsavory Task.
1t was an unsavory task that faced
the enemy. The Bourbon wood still was
reeking with poisonous gas; Grain
court. Anneux Cantaing. Noyelles, Mar
ruins, and the low-lying ground on
which the Germans apparently had
planned to dig their new trenches was
overlooked by the British positions.
Into this desert the big guns were
hurting tons of explosives and machine
gunners were whipping a constant
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 CONSOLIDATE ton
virtually having been completed before
they started to retire at midnight
Tuesday.
AS a matter of fact, part of their work
| was done for them by the Germans in
the famous Hindenburg trenches The
wonderful German dugouts and net
work of fronI-line and communication
| trenches were all at the disposal of the
Tommies. who look out with uncon-
1 cerned satisfaction at the former occu-
| pants. now laboring miserably to build
| underground habitations.
Fighting at Many Points.
| Fighting continued today at MANY
| points between advanced patrols of the
British and the Germans In the re-
| gion of La Vacquerie the Germans gave
no indication that they had aba ndoned
their attempt to oust the British from
the high ground just north of La Vac
| querie village. The advance OF the Ger
mans into the evacuated territory has
been much hampered by the harassine
| methods of the British.
Germans Have 25O,OoO Men.
| 1t is Impossible to give an adeou,te
| estimate of the number of Germa =
troops employed in the operations aions
the new battle line since Gen. Ryns
began his push on November 90 hui
1t is probably not far out Of the wav to
say that the enemy had something like
25o,e00 men,. Not all were ACTUALLY en-.
gagged in the fighting, and some ware
used as relief. but upward of that nun, :
ber were in the Cambria sector NJ,
recently had been brought from othe,
| fronts.
The British withdrawal leaves ,h-
| British in full pOSSeSSinp of .iS