The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-02-19
BRITISH SMASH
GERMAN WAVES
Strong TeutOn Attempts to
Win Back Ground on
Ancre Fail.
HOT FIGHT FOR MOUND
Both Sides Lose Heavily in
Desperate Battle in the
MiraumOnt Region.
HOT FIGHT FOR MOUND

'ciHi"h IhidHtry uasHeu N"i's '"'
morning UP the ridgo and toward the
trenches which tho British stormed yes
terday north OF the Ancre. Nowhere did
the Germans evon reach the trenches
Caught by the concentrated fire of hum
dreds OF British batteries. they wero
hurled back with heavy losses.
The British victory OF yesterday was
of greater magnitude than at first re-
ported. Tho German prisoners totalled
IL officers and 76t men. and a number
Of machine guns and mine throwers
were taken.
To-day's German statement admits Ia
part only OF the success the British War
Office announced yesterday. Though
conceding a small withdrawal north Of
the Ancre near Baillescourt farm. where
to-day's vain counter attack was mace.
the statement says all the British at
tacks south of the river were repulsed
1t was south of the .Ancre that the
British reported an advance OF half
mile on mile and q half front
Fierce Battle for Monnd.
Reuters correspondent at British head
quarters in France, tciegraphlng Sunday,
says:
"ln the battle which began III the
neighborhood of Miraumont Saturday
morning and has continued internationally
ever since, the fiercest struggle was TO
the left OF the centre, where the British
sought TO get mastery of a mound rising
about forty feet. with sunkcn road
across IT.
THE Germans realized the great tac-
teal value II the mound and had IL
frinsed with machine gun emplacements
and ribbed with trenches and siren
uously disputed the British advance up
the slope. II was deadly fighting, bnt
the British steadily passed forward untii
they had almost gained the crest
shortly after sunrise. however, the
Gerr ans launched a strong counter at
tack with fresh troops. The British were
forced to yield ground under weight
of numbers, but supports We're rushed
to them ard the withdrawal Ceased
The Germans had regalned part OF the
mound, but nevertheless tie British line
ran we'll up the slope.
Both sides Lose hedSuy.
THE German losses are known 10
have been very considerable. and IT
would be useless to pretend that we
did not have to pay the price OF VIC
tory. But the success attained Is q
very important one
To-nights official statements covering
the remainder OF the front in Franc,
and Belgium mention considerable ac
1,x. rti Nd ~ SrnlS Nag
dun. and desultory operations elsewhere
The statements follow:
Brltish--Thc prisoners We took in
yesterdays operations ,on the Ancre)
now number l2 officers and 761 men.
We also captured a number or ma
chine guns and trench mortars.
This morning strong enemy forces
attacked our new positions on the
spur above Daillescourt farm. The
enemy infantry. advancing in three
waves, with bodies Of supporting
troops In lie rear. came under the
concentrated fire OF our artillery and
were driven back with heavy losses.
Our lines were not reached at any
point. We suffered no casualties
We entered German positions during
| the night southwest and also north
! west Of Arras. south of Fauquissart
and north of Ypres. We inflicted many
casualties on the enemy. blew up Il
machine gun emplacement and took
nineteen prisoners.
! British Repulse Raids.
Hostile raidins parties were re-
pulsed during the night south Of
! Ypres. We secured prisoners and in
ricted number of casualties, There
was considerable mutual artillery ac-
| tivity to-day in the neighbOrhoOd OF
Bouchavesnes, in the Ancre area and
In the Ypres sector.
German-Army group OF Crown
Prince Rupprecht-After lively fire
preparation strong English reconnoi-
tring detachments tried to enter our
! trenches north of Armenticres. south
| west Of Lille. north Of the La Bassee
| Canal and near Ransart. They were
repulsed partly in hand to hand fight
ing, during which prisoners remained
| In our hands. and partly by our fire.
! After the failure of his attack on
February l6 south OF Miraumont the
enemy In the course OF the night in
creased his artillery fire, and when
| morning came attacked on both sides
! of the Ancre RIVER. In the engage
| ments, which continued during tho
day and were subject to frequent
charges. we took prisoners $50 men
and captured i've machine guns and
then abandoned 20 the enemy our most
advanced crater positions.
On the south bank of the Ancre
violent English attacks were repulsed
and all our positions were maintained.
On the River Oise near Dresir-
court (southwest OF Noyon) an ad-
vance brought In for us fourteen pris-
oners.
German Big Guns busy.
Army Group Of Crown Prince Fred
erick William-In the Champagne our
new positions south of Ripont and on
trenches in the Boise 10 Pretre were
actively shelled by artillery and mine
throwers. Attacks were not carried
out because OF our annihilating fire.
On the night of February II one
of our airships extensively bombed
the town and port of Boulogne.
French-NOthing of Importance oc-
CURED during the day except q fairly
lively artillery action on both sides OF
the Meuse, especially In the regions of
Bezonvaux and Hill S04. Last night
an enemy surprise attack on one of
our trenches north of st. Mihiel failed.
Belgian-Thcre was patrol activity
during the night In the region OF the
ferrymar's house. This morning lively
fghtlng with bombs and artillery took
place In the region of Steenstraets
and Het Sas. The bombardment was
intsrmittsnt on the rest Of the front.