New Britain herald., 1917-11-26
CONTINUAL FIGHTS
 FOR VILLAGE POINT
British and Germans Fighting Desperately for Strong Footing
TEN THOUSAND PRISONERS

TEN THOUSAND PRISONERS Also POO Officers Are Captured Dur
 ing Last Few Days of Fighting on
 the Western Front-Airmen Attack
 Infantry With Machine Guns.
 British Army Headquarters in France, Nov. 25. (By the Associated Press. )-Thfs morning found the line of battle of the weary but determined British troops stretched in a semi circle about Bourbon wood and Bour- lon village, which ends at the north west edge of the forest. It was a line which had been established in the face of dogged resistance from the Germans, who had fallen back step by step. fighting with the fury of despair.
 All day yesterday the opposing forces struggled bitterly at close quarters for possession of the village from which the British were forced Friday after gaining 8 footing in the rush that took them through Bourbon wood. Night stdll found waves of in- fantry surging back and forth through the streets of the hamlet and among the houses, their crimson bayonets telling the story of the terrible con- f1tct being waged. Gradually the Germans fell back, the British press ing forward with grim persistence.
 A little to the southwest of here an- other intense struggle was being staged in Moueuvres, into which the British had battled their way with rife and bayonet and pushed the Germans out of the southern half.
 Elsewhere along the Cambrai front there was no infantry action of inn portance.
 Prisoners continue to arrive from the front. Nearly 10000 captives thus far have been counted, including 200 officers.
 In the capture of Bourbon village the British have acquired one of the most important points they have secured so far. This high ground controls a wide sweep of territory and it's occupation holds out the possi- bility that the enemy eventually will be forced to withdraw their lines to the northwest.
 -~The Bourbon position also overlooks Cambrai, but this city might be a hard nut to crack because the central part is walled and many suburbs ra- diate from it forming natural barriers against an advance from the west. It seems possible that Cambrai might become g. sort of No Mans Land dominated by the big guns of both sides. and that this ancient town with it's fine old cathedral and picturesque walls would go the way of so many other places which come under ar- tillery fire.
 A large amount of traffic in the last few days have been pouring out of Cambrai toward the southeast, 1ndi- eating the probability that the Ger mans have evacuated the civilian population and are preparing for eventualities.
 Greatest Importance.
 That the Germans attached the greatest importance to Bourbon wood and the village was fully evidenced by their strenuous resistance and the intense counter-attacks hurled agains the British lines.
 The fighting over the wooded slope! of this elevation has been among thu most spectacular of the war, for thu occupation of the forest was dut largely to the work of tanks and air men who paved the way for the on 1 rushing infantry. A number of irol monitors led the advance to Bourlol wood, Friday, with British plane circling over the enemy at neigh l of from 30 to 50 feet and carryin, 1 chine guns and bombs.
 It was hard fighting, but this ad vance was continued until the north east corner of the wood was reache where the tanks were held up by strong force of the enemy. Britis] airmen, who had been fighting clos to the ground, charged down on tn enemy infantry with machine gun l pumping a steady stream of bullets The battle was short and decisive The airplanes wheeled and re-wheele over the heads of the Germans an maintained such an intense fire tha the defenders were forced to retir after suffering considerable losse: The tanks then pushed on, the con quest of the wood being complete and an entering wedge having bee driven into the village.
 The Germans delivered a heav counter-attack on the troops who ha penetrated the hamlet and, after
 stiff fight, forced them to withdra7
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