Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-12-04
ARE IN
ACTION TODAY ON
CANDRAI FRONT
Engineers Working On Rail
road Lines Help Stem
German Rush
FIELD PILED HIGH
/. WITH GERMAN DEAD
Successive Waves Of Crown
Princes S Men Moved Down
by Deadly Fire
BY William Phillip si1nms

Omitted Press staff correspondent
With the British Armies in the Field
Dec. 4.-Americans were again IN ac-
tion around Cambria with the British
today. They were members of the same
American army engineering units who
on Saturday and Sunday, were caught
between the lines, and who threw down
their tools to grab British rifles.
The Americans have suffered some
losses but their detachment is proud of
the opportunity to do its bit and to
be the first American unit to suffer
in a great battle.
The battle out of Cambria continues
with unabated ferocity today. Fight
ing like wild cats, the British have
been stemning the enemy and where
they have been forced to give way,
they have only done so in their own
good time, after repulsing all attacks
This plan held at Masnieres. 1t has
been followed elsewhere
The fields near Queant, around
Byng's new salient, down to Vendhuile
are piled with dead Germans today.
Fifteen waves deep the enemy came to
the attack. In these solid phalanx like
columns British artillery, machine
guns and rifles did fearful execution.
West of Bourbon, one British ma
chine gunner fired seventy thousand
rounds on one gun in single day
and all at range of not more than
1900 yards. 1t was usually less than
that.
This was only one rapid fire gun out
Of many directed at the solid masses
IF the enemy. But they never seemed |
10 make an impression on the fifteen
waved lines. The dead dropped in
piles, but other gray coated fighters
flled the gaps.
The exploit of a certain tank lieu
,enant is an example of the British
,attle spirit. The lieutenant 8 captain,
n charge Of the tank, was killed early
yesterday morning The subaltern took J
A few hours later-at l0:sj
n the morning-his tank was hit
duarely by a German shell. The lieu
enant got his men out of their steel
wagon and had them entrench nearby
Then, alone, he clambered back into
he. tank and personally worked the
4ewis guns that stuck out of its bar
,ettes in front. He worked them so
apidly that they got red hot and he
an out of ammunition. He had to
cave the tank.
But the lieutenant was still anxious
o fight. He and his men found a Ger
IAN machine nearby and with it at
aeked 200 Germans. They held the en-
my until British infantry painted up
nd grabbed the enemy position. K
British officers who have been Il
trough the war mill declare today
here never has been any heavier figlEs e
lg than that which the Cambrai seq d
or has seen for the last few days. AZ
acks and counter attacks succeed each i
dlessIy-bringing the action la
ito one vast battle. Is
Today the most violent spot in the la
ighting was apparently around Lavac-
uerie. lc
Field Marshal Hindenburg is giving q
rown Prince Rupprecht fresh divis- ID
ms. They have been pouring in from X
d directions. Probably some of theh L
re from Russia.
The Bayafian prince is flinging them 6
ito the struggle in the old German Q
ghting styie-masses upon masses. Ii
From prisoners it seemed apparent 2
lat Germany is exerting her utmost, ii
anxious to force decision
efore the Americans arrive. b
Germans, Bavarians, Prussians and o
renadier guards-the very pick of q
le Teutonie forces-are in the Ger 4
an assault