Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-09
BRITISH COMFORTABLE
IN THEIR new POSITION
consolidation Virtually Completed
Before Retirement Began at
Midnight OF Tuesday.
UNsAvORY TASK FOR GERMANS
Continue Work OF ReoccupyinE De.
vnstatcd Area Bequeathed to
Them by Byng's Forccs--Fight-
Ing Continues Between Patrols.
-fBY AssncIatnl prcss.l


BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE. Friday. December Tho
Germans to-day continued their work
OF rcoccupying the devastated area be-
queathed TO them by the British when
General BynI made his withdrawal
from tho Cambrai salient
1t was an unsavory task that faced
the enemy. Tho Bourbon wood still
was rocking with poisonous gas;
Graincourt, Anneux. Cantaing. Noyelles,
Marcong and Maanicrcs were a waste
OF ruins. and the low-lying ground on
which the Germans apparently had
planned to dig their new trenches was
overlooked by the British positions.
Into this desert the big guns were
hurting tons Of explosives, and machine
gunners were whipping n constant
stream OF bullets into the ranks of tho
enemy sent forward prospecting for de-
eirable points available for defense.
Meanwhile tho major portion OF the
British army was sitting comfortably
In their new home. their consolidation
virtually having been completed be-
fore they started TO retire al midnight
Tucsday.
AS a matter OF fact. part OF their
work was done for them by tic Ger
mans in tho famous Hinde nburg
trenches The wonderful German dug
outs and network OF front line and
communication trenches were all at
the disposal OF the Tommes.
FIGHTING BETWEEN
ADVANCED PATROLS
Fighting continued today AZ many
points between advanced patrols Of the
British and TIE Germans. In the re-
Eion Of La Nacpucric, the Germans gave
no indication that they had abandoned
their attempt to Gust the British from
tho high ground just north of La
Nacqucric village. The advance Of tho
Germans into the evacuated territory
has been much hampcred by the
harvesting methods Of the British.
Tho British who hold Bourbon wood
galiantly were compelled 10 wear
gas masks most Of tho time they were
in tho forest. The ground was awampy'
in many places. and the whole wood
was covered with undcrb-ush. Thcac
two features resulted in gas hanging
about the wood in clouds. In some
points IL was perilous even TO remove
the mask TO cat or drink. Il was also
extremely difficult 20 dig in. as every
time spadeful OF earth was turned.
tho Hoggy soil gave out more gar. Yet
!. is believed tho British could have
maintained tho wood.
/, is impossible TO give An adequate
estimate Of the number OF German
troops employed in the operations
along the new battle line since Cen
cral Byng began his push on Novem
Der 20, but II is probably not far out
OF the way to say that the enemy had
something like 100000 men. Many re-
Gently had been brought from other
fronts.
NEW BRITISH POSITIONS
EXCEEDINGLY STRONG
The British arc In full possession OF
the !Iindenburg line between the Nord
Canal and Villers- Plouich. East OF
Eillcrs- Plouich. the British line
crosses the system. and then southwest
toward Gauche wood. which the Brit
ish still hold. The new positions are
exceedingly strong. and the Germans
nrc giving indications that they intend
to dig themselves in along the line a
respectful distance from II.
The British artillery fire upon the
evacuated zone is very heavy. and the
Germans have suffered considerable
casualties. Something like 1000 Ger
mans were killed At one place north
OF Flesquicres yesterday afternoon by
artillery fire. These had pushed for
ward. and were cScrtinS pressure
against the British near Orival wood
The British fell back slightly. and the
Germans also retired to n position be-
hind the wood. where they assembled
in large numbers. The British artil.
lery put down heavy barrage and
badly smashed the entire force.
Yesterday afternoon the Germans
also attacked again about La Nacpuerie
but were repulscd with machin gun
fire. The British still hold the higl,
ground near here. and the Germans
continue infantry assaults in an at
tempt to Dust the defenders.