The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1917-12-01
ElERcE COUNTER ATTACKS
Made by Germans Recover Much Of
Ground Carried by Byng's Ad.
vance Last Week.

France, November 30--The Germans
this morning made an attack on the
British lines about Councillor, which
Is just south OF the area included In
last weeks British offensive, No de-
tails of the progress Of the enemy as
sault are available at the time this
dispatch is filed no a. m.)
The Germans In violent offensive
over the entire front where the
British made their notable gains last
week. have pushed back General
Byng's troops at several points. Els
pecially severe was the attack be-
tween the Bourbon Wood and Moev-
res, where the British line under Its
impetus was driven back to the VIC
unity of the Bapaume-Cambrai road
north Of Graincourt-a distance Of
about two miles. Likewise the south
ern base on the enemy drove through
from Councillor to Gouzeaucourt-an'
other two miles. The village of Law
acquerie was captured by the Ger.
mans, but later in counter attack
was recovered
Other counter attacks have driven
the enemy from Gouzeucourt and the
ridge to the east.
There was little infantry fighting
during the night but the enemy artil-
lery was very active especially
against Graincourt, Bourbon Wood
and Marching
A successful minor operation was
carried out by the British yesterday
between Bourbon Wood and Moeuvres
by which they advanced their line 9
few hundred yards and secured a sec,
ton of the ridge. The attack was
met by an exceedingly heavy barrage
fire from the German guns and an in
tense machine gun fire from the d.
rection of Bourbon village. The as
saulting infantry, however, pushed
through and this morning the troops
were holding the new positions
strongly, thereby Strengthening the
line and giving the British command
Of an important piece Of high ground
The enemy attempted a raid to the
south of Graville late yesterday but
the advancing infantry was caught by
the British machine.
The weather this morning was ia
vorable to military operations. The
day was fine and mild and the roads
were so dry that the dust was flying
The British are continuing the dig
ging in process all along the new
front.
The Germans delivered pretent'
ious assault in force this morning or
the British positions between Bour'
lon Wood and Moeuvres toward the
west. Under cover of tremendous
artillery fire directed on the British
lines and the back areas, the Ger
mans in their first rush pushed ovel
the crest of the ridge west OF the
wood and down to the vicinity of the
Bapaume- Cambria road, just north Of
Graincourt. Hard fighting is still in
progress over the greater portion OF
the fifteen-mile front.
The British after the first shock
Immediately organized a counter at
tack and flung themselves against the
advancing Germans. Late today il
was reported that the British hat
succeeded in pushing back the enemy
although the later were resisting
fiercely.
This enemy attack was the first
serious attempt made to thrust the
British from the positions winch they
obtained in General Byngs great
drive of last week. 1t followed 9
night of comparative quiet ali along
this front and yesterday there was
little indication that big events wer'
impending.
All day a concentration Of German
guns, which had been rushed up fol
he attack, have been pounding the
British forward and back areas and
considerable amount of gas shell: