Rock Island Argus., 1917-11-24
ULSTER men
HERO|C;FACE
FIRE OF FIGHT
Iishmen in British Army
Win New Glory for
Old Erin.

British army headquar-
ters in France, Nov. "a.
by Associated Press.)
Bourbon wood, which DOM
mates Cambria from the
west, probably is in the
hands of tbs British this
morning.
Meagre reports indicate
that Moeuvres may have
fallen. According to- the
latest information, Fon-
taine is abIaze.
Berlin. Nov. 24.-British at
tacks on the Cambria front in
France yesterday were repuised
in front of Bourbon, F0ntaine and
La Folfe wood. it was announced
today by the German war office.
The statement adds that 30 Brit
ish tanks which were shot TO
pieces lie before F0ntaine alone.
British Headquarters in France,
Friday, Noy. 2S.-(By the Ass0-
ciated Press The main attack
on the opening OF the offensive
Tuesday was along the western
bank OF the Canal Da Nord. which
runs almost due north and south
from point d little west OF Hay-
rineomrt. The main Hindenburg
line trenches we're built along this
waterway and the British had to
fight their way up the big ditch.
There was intense hard work al
most from the start as the Ulsterite
who undertook this task got in anon
the German defenses. Because of tn
secret nature of the attack no artil
lery could be used to cut the tire
strong lines OF barbe
wire in front Of the trenches, and tn
tanks were not operating in this sec
tor. Therefore it was necessary TO
the Irishmen to charge the entanglt
ments and bomb them to pieces i
order to force their way through.
It was a big undertaking, fer th
Irish came under concentrated riff
and machine gun fire as soon as the
began TO advance, but they maintaine
their reputation for yalor and bombe
their way with such grim determine
ton that they drove an entering wedg
into the trench system near Havrif
court. Northwest Of the town is
high bank on the west Of the cana
This elevation was strongly fortifie
with dugouts and there was a gre;
concentration Of machine guns. tt
British had no alternative but
charge the position up the Slopes, ar
this they did. The crest was gained
the face of heavy fire and despera
bayonet fighting followed
Fury OF the Ulster Forces.
The Ulsterites hurled themselves
the Germans with such fury that Il
latter were compelled TO desert the
machine guns and abandon the hi
and many Of them were shot down +;
they fed northward along the cana
A large number OF prisoners were ca,
turedI in the dugouts. on the hill az
beside the canal. This fight oCcurrt
at s o'clock Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile German machine gunc {
the eastern side Of the canal We
giving much trouble and British e
gineers built bridges over the waite
way to give crossing to the infantr
The Irish infantry was then advan
ing northward on both sides of Il
canal, with the main Cambrai-Bapaun
highway as their immediate obje
tive
The Germans then were firing wi
machine guns down across the Car
brai road. Hand to hand fighting o
Cured at positions below the road b
the Germans finally were forced
withdraw. Dugouts lighted by ele
tricity were found in the chain Of d
fenses along the highway. BY g.:
o'clock in the evening the Irish troo,
had crossed the Cambrai- -Bapaun
Highway on both sides Of the can
and taken a stand south Of Moeuvrt
This was the situation here at the el
of the first days fighting.
Wednesday morning the Britt
pushed forward, this time having Il
support of certain amount of art
lery. Moeurres was strongly held, b
the Irish stormed the defense wi
bombs and forced their way half vi
through the village. Here they car
up against a heavy barricade viii
they took with the bayonet and for
time drove the Germans out OF t
village. In the afternoon the &c
mans approached from the east 81
of the canal for a counter attack, b
this was smashed by machine gun a
rife FIRE. q
/ Irish 30 Back for More.
Thursday morning the Irish we
j holding most Of Moeuyres and t
east bank of the canal. In the afts
noon the Germans delivered a su
| den counter attack from the nor
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| Continued on Page Three.)