New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-13
German Forces Are Beaten
Back Except at One
Point
Enemy Losses Heavy,
Says Haig's Report
Foe Disappointed in the
Attempt to Overwhelm
Defenders

LONDON. Dec. 10 Employing dense
masses Of troops, the Germans this
earning launched heavy attack
,e.irst the British on a narrow front
between Bullccourt and Quesn;, ten
,.Hss west Of Cambria Except at one
,oin.. Field Marshal Haig reports TO-
,,rbt. the attack was beaten off with
sssvv losses 90 the enemy, many Of
those dead were left on the battlefield.
The German success was achieved on
IN. right OF .he front under attack,
,sieh was 4bout a mile cast Of Bulle-
court Here they entered short
l.pg,h OF front trench, which. Haig re
,orts formed q salient in the British
line. and which had been demolished
by the bombardmont preceding the as.
.,plt. Al al other points the enemy
net with complete failure. many Of the
German soldiers being caught in the
hsrrage Of the British guns and rifles
while they were making their way
through the barbed wire entangle-
nents. The British commander adds
that a number Of prisoners were taken.
Weight Of Numbers Fails
The Reuter- correspondent at British
Hesdouarters. describing the attack,
says it was evidently the intention Of
the Germans TO overwhelm their op-
.F bov
thrown forward at a point where
ham bend occurs In the British line.
The attack was arrested, he reports,
After the Germans had gained loot
lold in about 500 yards OF the British
front line. The lighting lasted from
dawn uatil / o'clock this afternoon.
His dispatch is as follows;
"What apparently was intended as
determined German attack upon the
sector OF our line east o. Bullecourt
WIS delivered shortly after dawn, and,
owing 70 the stanchness OF our troops.
vas reduced 20 the limits Of a very
smal local success az the most. The
$40. ths enemy chose was he elbow
IN the bend 9f our line between Bule-
court aad Queant.
"The Germans opened an intense
bomb5rdmeut as she nrst streaSs OF
frosty dawn were palin9 the eastern
SKY. Our artillery promptly replied
with a barrage M. down between the
opposing trenches, in order 10 catch
any infantry advance.
"Assaulting waves Of Bavari@n troops
came over in close formation. j. was
The manifest intention TO throw great
pressure upon the front OF the attack
and ovcrpowcr the defenders, II pos
siblc, by sheer weight OF numbers.
Germans cot "Footholf'
"Ficrcc fghtino Cusued. but .t is toe
early to &c. details. since cOmmunica-
tons arc always difficult during en-
sagtmcut.. So fan a can rather. lie
Germans managed 10 get some sort Of
footing 1 about five hundred yards
Of our front line trenches before their
attack wa. arrested
"The artillery duel continued Cn'..
about 1890 O'Clock. when 10 died dom.
but the constant rattle of machiu
guns suggested that some fighting w."
Ftlll iu progress. and IL is quite po
sible that we were counter attacking.
This is really al there is 70 tell. u
seems reasonable 10 believe tnat the
ever 10 was. since the extent Of their
GAIN was so small and so indefinite IN
point Of tactical achievement that j.
Is difficult TO regard 70 As representing
On! complete scheme Of operations.
Ayiators Active
The favorable weather conditions or
me last two days have brought great
&c lalI 80
INTO action along the whole West front.
me primary object Of both the British
end the Germans being 20 gather infor-
nation as TO the cnemy's strength and
oispositon Of troops preliminary TO
The greater infantry movements that
are bound 90 come. Ncstci day morning
squadron Of British machines pene-
uated into German territory 20 bomb
certain factory districts. Finding their
isrgets obscured by clouds. they flew
further 90 Tho north and raided a large
railway junction in the neighborhood
., Prmascns, capital Of the Bavarian
fsisiinate and about 100 miles east
of Nerduu.
West Of Cambria German hicrs made
Repeated attacks on the British posi-
uons, hair's report says. while the
british aviators replied with raids on
eaeny villages and trenches, turning
.aelr machine guns on troops forma-
nons and fortifcations. Monday night
Dhiish naval aircraft raided the
Voslaeker airdrome and the Bruges
e9.1s with good success. the statement
Saes' -Four German machines and ono
balloon were brought down, while the
british lost three craft.
On the Trencb front the Crown
I'lhee continued his local attacks and
raids from the Aisne sector TO Nerdun,
Isrs reports. Northwest Of Rheims.
SShere observers believe the greatest
Nefman blow will fall. several assaults
On small French outposts were repelled.
fNe,C TeutOH attack on Italian
lfONl nnd (n..c,.lI ANc,h1L's On |