Evening star., 1917-11-25
Fontaine Aflame and Bourbon
Wood Probably Taken by
Gen. ,Byng's Forces.
MOEUVRES is CLOSELY
INVESTED, is REPORT
Germans Resisting Desperately.
English Try to Drive Behind
Main Hindenburg Line.

Fontaine- Queant line, west of Cambria.
Unofficial reports late in the day in
dicated the probability that Gen. Byng's
troops had wrested possession of the
hotly disputed Bourbon wood from the
Germans and had closely invested
Moeuvres. The village Of Fontaine,
less than three miles from Cambria, was
reported in flames, suggesting the prob
ability of an impending German retire
ment from that place.
Resisting Desperately.
The Germans are resisting desperate
ly the British advance, which is being
pressed most energetically on this east
lowest front Gen. Byng's evident In
tention is to drive in behind the main
Hindenburg line. preached in Tuesdays
surprise attack, and the Queant-Dro-
court switch line, while still pushing
his encircling movement of Cambria to
the north and east. The British have
pushed considerably to the northwest
of Moeuvres. however. and are hammer
ing at Inchy. which the Germans are
battling determinedly to retain.
German Gain Temporary.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON. November 24.-Fierce Ger
man counter attacks have been made
today in the neighborhood of Bourbon
woods. according to the Official report
from British headquarters in France
tonight The British line was forced to
withdraw slightly. but later in the day
the line Was re,Asfa hlished and the
high ground held.
The taxt OF the statement reads:
'F1erce Aghting has taken piace dur
Ing the dag I'm the neighborhooa pf
several determined attempts with fresh
troops to regain possession OF the high
ground. This morning strong hos
tile attack compelled our troops to
give ground slightly in this area. Later
In the day our troops counter-attacked
and sre-established our former line.
"On the extreme right of the south
ern battle front we have improved our
positions.
"On the Ypres battle front the hos
tile artillery has again been active in
the Passchendaele sector"
Bourbon Wood Taken.
By the Associated Press
BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE. November 24.-Bourlon wood,
which dominates Cambrai from the
west. Is probably in British hands this
morning as result Of the sanguinary
struggle waged yesterday on its slopes
Bourbon village. at the northwest fringe
Of the forest, was still held by the Ger
mans. who fought bitterly all day
against the advancing troops. The
enemy also retained his hold on the VII
lage Of Fontaine. about which intense
lighting proceeded throughout Friday.
The latest information from this place
was that It was ablaze.
The British yesterday advanced their
line still farther to the west Of
Moeuvres. and there were meager re-
ports indicating that this place was
very closely invested. Many more Ger
man guns have been found among the
estimated at about 400.
Prisoners Still Coming Back.
Prisoners were still coming back this
morning. The correspondent passed
two sQuadrons of mud-smeared Ger
mans near the British front who were
being brought back to the cages.
The fighting yesterday at Bourlen
wood and around Fontaine was Of a
most desperate nature. Bourbon wood
and the village aHe situated on high
ground, which affords extensive ohser.
self comprises 500 acres. and, while the
ground Is dry, 1t is covered with a
heavy underground. making an advance
up the slopes difficult. The British
line on the low ground about the
southern fringe of the wood, and from
these positions it was necessary to
charge up the slopes in the face OF a
tremendous concentration of machine
guns.
The infantry. cooperating with the
tanks, pushed forward in the morning,
and hard fighting ensued Immediately BY
4 rfo vfknk In fhn az
tied forward half way through the wood,
and two hours later the infantry were
occupying line through the center of
the wood and to the northwest Of Fon-
taine
Fight With Bayonets.
At noon the Germans began putting a
heavy artillery and machine gun barrage
along the roads to the south Of the wood,
rendering communication with the ad-
vancing troops more difficult Hand to-
hand fighting with bayonets began almost
as soon as the British entered the forest
! This continued with great ferceness
throughout the afternoon. the assaulting
troops gradually forcing the Germans
back + fo4s 3s. By rtos foot toward the northern
Whether the wood is firmly in Brit
ish hands now is not absolutely GER
: tain. but the enemy still retains his
NOlQ on inc Vllldk0s WHICH Is strongly
i, fortified with rapid-nrers.
Late in tho afternoon the Germans
delivered q determined counter attack
from the north in an attempt to oust
!. the British. but the latter held hrm
Aand drove the Germans back. In the
meantime a fierce conflict was proceed
ing near Fontaine. The Germans were
defending this place with rides and
machine guns. which they fred from
; the roofs and windows Of the houses.
| were reported to have forced an on.
trance and the place was said to be ir
(; flames. The Germans were able te
| maintain themselves in the village
however. and were still there at the
| latest reports.
| Two counter attacks in the neighbor.
hood of Cantaing were smashed yester.
!, day afternoon. The British made q
| slight advance in this region during the
/ day.
| Claims Check for British.
| BERLIN, via London, November a.
The supplementary ofIicial statement 10
..(continued on Second lPaEe.l