Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-11-28
BRITISH FIGHT HARD
TO HOLD FONTAINE
LContinued from First Page.J

to the southeast. Five hundred Ger
man prisoners were taken in the
early hours of the fighting.
Late this afternoon the Germans
hurried up two new divisions and
threw them in for a counterattack
along the Fontaine- Bourbon wood
line. The fighting which followed
in Fontaine was even more bitter,
if possible, than that which occur
red in the first rush through the
ruined hamlet. At latest reports su-
perior numbers of enemy infantry
had pushed the British back through
the village again to the western and
northwestern outskirts, but the bat
tie still continued with una bated
fury.
Enemy Determined
In the meantime the British line
running Bourbon wood to the north
west was sustaining a heavy assault.
The enemy appeared to be deter
mined to regain this important po-
sition if it were humanely possible.
The whole front from Fontaine to
Bourbon village was the scene of
fierce fighting which at many places
was at close quarters. The British
line about Bourbon wood is still in
tact.
The attack on Fontaine Notre
Dame was begun with the assistance
of a very heavy artillery barrage
and throughout the morning the
British gunners maintained an in
tense fire against the German po-
sitions there. The inrushing infantry
drove an entering wedge into the
northwestern part of the village in
short time, but they were held up
here by n terrific rifle and machine
gun fire to which they were sub
jected from every point of vantage.
Conditions were favorable to the
Germans for they were fighting on
the defensive in well-prepared po-
sitions which could only be taken by
storm. Every machine gun was
equivalent to several hundred Res.
British Continue Fight
Despite the disadvantages the Brit
ish continued the onslaught. 1t was
d glorious exhibition OF bulldog cour-
age. They surged on and in less than
three hours had pushed the hard
hitting Germans back to the eastern
side of the village, leaving enemy
dead strewing the streets.
AS the British fought forward and
surrounded the various buildings
containing enemy machine gunners,
many Germans were compelled to
surrender TO save their lives. BY the
time the eastern side of the village
was reached 500 captives had been
collected and sent back to swell the
great total of prisoners taken since
General Byng struck his telling blow
last Tuesday.
ReinforccmentS Arrive
The arrival of a large body of Ger
man reinforcements put different
complexion on the situation. These
fresh troops Immediately counter
attacked and the fighting through
the streets of Fontaine took on re-
newed Vigor. The western outskirts
of the village were reached and
here, according to latest reports, the
battle continued.
Interesting facts were made known
to-day concerning the famous tun-
mel trench which the British now
hold in its entirely northwest of
Bullecourt. Part of this underground
fertilization was captured in the
fighting previous to the Cambria
push. but a large portion was taken
last week. The tunnel. which was
built by Russian prisoners, was a
most amazing piece of work.
1t was thirteen miles long and
forty feet deep. Entrances were
driven into it every thirty-five yards
and the Germans lighted the entire
place with electricity. The tunnel
was mined at intervals throughout
its length. but the British quickly
discovered the electric wires leading
TO the mines and they were rendered
use ess.