The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-24
.IRISRhEN BOMBED
WAYTHROUGHTHE
ENTANGL EMENTS
OF BARBED WIRE
Ulster Troops Undertook
Difficult Task of Open
ing Big Offensive
NO ARTILLERY
COULD BE USED
Charged up Slope in Face
of Heavy Machine
Gun Fire
CBy Associated Prsss.)

france, Friday, Nov. ZS.-The main
| attack on the opening of the offens-
i've Tuesday was along the western
| bank of the canal Du Nord, which
runs almost due north and south
from point little west of Hayrin-
court. The main HindenburR line
trenches were built along this water
way and the British had to fight
their way up the big ditch.
There was intense hard work ale
most from the start as the Ulster
ties. who undertook this task got ia
among the German defenses. be-
cause OF the secret nature of the at
tack no artillery could be used 10
cut the tremendously strong lines
Of barbed wire in front OF the
trenches, and the tanks were not
operating i'm this section. Therefore
IL was necessary for the Irighmen
to charge the entanglements ana
bomb them TO pieces in order 10
force their way through.
1t was a big undertaking, for thu
Irish came under concentrated rife
and machine gun fire as soon as they
began to advance but they maintain
ed their reputation for vaIor and
bombed their way with such grim
determination that they drove an
entering wedge into the trench sys-
tenn near Havrincourt. Northwest
OF the town is a high bank on the
west Of the canal. This elevation
was strongly fortified with dugouts
and there was a great concentration
OF machine guns. The British had no
alternative but to charge the POSI-
ton up the slopes and this they
old' The crest was gained in the face
o. 9I heAyy nre and desperate bayonet
Abandon Hill.
The Ulsterites hurled themselves
on the Germans with such fury thai
the latter were Compelled fo dessrt
thelr machine guns and abandon the
NIL and many OF them were shot
down as they fed northward along
the canal. A large number or pris-
oners we're captured I'm the dugouts.
on the hill and beside the canal. This
hght occurred at o'clock Tuesday
morning.
Meanwhile German machine Guns
on the eastern side OF the canal v7era
glYins much trouble and a. soon -
the nigh bank was captured Brftieh
engineers began building bridges
over the waterway I'm order 70 give Il
crossing TO the infantry. Previously
they mad repaired q causeway I'm ahs
able TO get over the canal TO {ha
eastern bank. The Irish Infantry pran
tnen advancing northward on kofh
sides or the canal, with the main
SaEn prai -Bapaume highway as their
immediate objective.
During the afternoon tha Trish
were held up temporarily bacauna ~
the shortage OF ammunition near 3
sunken road, southwest OF grafn-
court, where the Germans were 81.
tablished in considerable force ThIa
position was rendered doubiy etrorr
Dy machine gun Concentration
nortn OF Graincourt which could swaen
tne British lines near the canal. Tha
- ~ nunitlon came up and the British
olatsed forward again. They over
came the resistance south az tha
CaInbral- Bapaume highway.
The Germans then were firing w,ift,
machine guns down across the Cam.
oTdl road. Hand to- hand firhffnp
occurred at positions below the road
put the Germans finally were forceS
10 withdraw.
Dugouts lighted by electricity WAR
round IN the chain Of defenRas aIon~
the highway. BY Gle O'clock IN Ere
evening the Irish troops had crosena
me Cambrai- Bapaume highway -
Doth % sides of the canal and taken
stahd y south or Moeuvres. This was
ne 5rs. Sttuatlon s here at the end OF the
Wednesday morning tha artti.4.
pushed forward, this time bavine
me support OF a certain amount M
= 4ftlllery. Moeuvres was etronvIs
aeld but the Irish stormed tha ~.
lenses with bombs and forced fheir
way half through the village Hers
.ney came up against q heavy barri
cade which they took with fh.
29ayo9et and for a time drove fhe
out OF the village. IN the
lIternoon the Germans appr0achea
LoLh 1 the east side of the canal for q
sOuhter attack but this was smashed
ly machine gun and rifle FIRE.
Later in the afternoon TIE csarmam
artillery opened up and heavgf,s
,neiled the trenches held BY The Bit
sh south Of MOeuvres. Thur~dmv
morning the Irish were holding mort
u MoeuYres an dthe east Mant ~
he canal. In the afternoon TIE Ger
mans delivered sudden counter az
ack from the north and after hand
o-nand lighting through the streets
M among the houses they forced
ne ne british 70 withdraw TO the SOUTH
~ ~ outskirts. s. Ihis morning the Irish
~@A 80 AVA1 against Nn8
own and az an early hour had work
d their way around toward the
iOrth.
Work Of Cavalry.
In the Graincourt section. on the
ight OF the Irish, remarkable work
Eas done by cavalry on the first Sav
ne horsemen had swept forward
nd captured Anneux by TUESDAY
Kening. This represented an
dyance Of about 1000 yards, which
J said to be a record for one aay
Anneux was found 70 have a ys~
I'm Of catacombs under the church
nd these were held by the Germans.
no had an electric power station
lr lighting An elaborate battalion
eadquarters fell into British hands
During Tuesday night the Germans
ounter attacked Anneux with tfo8nH
'hich had just been brought IRON
ae Russian front. Al strong Battle
Dok place and the British Wifhdrcw
Wednesday morning the British
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