Tombstone epitaph. (Tombstone, Ariz.) 1887-current, 1918-04-07
BRITISH UNBROKEN,
HUNS SLAUGHTERED
important Incidents Of First Week
Of Great Battle Are Given
to Public.
Moved Down BY Haie's Heroic Men.
the kaiser's Troops Push To-
ward the Somme BY Sheer
Force Of Numbers.

~ s~ssstOSsS
LondOn.-Details Of the first week
Of the great battle In France show
that. while the fighting has been more
severe than In any previous offensive.
there has been no cause for pessimism.
The German losses have been ter
rife. probably 10000 casualties hav-
ing been suffered by the kaiser's hosts.
At such cost they won less than one
third Of the ground on which they had
counted. The morale Of the British
troops has been perfect throughout
and they have fought magnifcently.
Million Germans In Action.
These facts stand out:
1t Is known that Mt least 100000
front Of attack. In the Somme area
not less than 81 army divisions were
identified. The British line suffered
Its most severe buffeting In this
stretch. but was firm everywhere
The Germans believed that a loss
Of 100000 would be n cheap price for
success in the west. but with loss
already Of 10000 there is no pros
pect Of their attaining the victory they
seek.
They regained all the ground lost In
the Cambria battle and have taken
back sections Of the territory taken
from them in the Somme offensive Of
last year
The fighting was not by any means
n de- he
British cOunter-attacked heavily and
fought for every foot OF ground.
Details Of the Fighting.
In one battle on the extreme left
the Germans employed not less than
nine divisions In an effort to break
British divisions held them at bay.
Finally. under weight Of numbers. the
British retired behind the line marked
by the ruined villages Of Bullecourt.
East Nogueil and Croiselles.
The next morning the Germans re-
newed the attack. striking nOrthward
from FOntainelles and Croiselles and
westward from Cherissy. They drove
In mass formation. wave after wave.
toward the heights between Henin-sur-
COjeui TO Henin HILL
Two hours of drum fire. In which
gas and high-explOsive shells were
mingled preceded the infantry attack.
From eight o'clock In the morning I'M
ill noon continuous waves Of gray-clad
troops stOrmed the heights.
British machine guns posted on the
ridge swept down line aftersline Of
Germans. BY three O'Clock in the aft
ernoon the TeutOns had succeeded in
pressing past Henin hill on both sides
and threatened to cut on the machine
gunners posted on the crests. Not
until then did the latter retire and re-
join the main British force.
Similar fighting was going on at the
same time on the right wing Tremen-
dOus pressure WAS brought to bear
around St. Leger. vaux and vrau-
court 1t lasted all day.
At times under the German blows
the British line sagged heavily. but at
no point did 1t give way.
Desperate Defense Of vauix.
A bitter battle was fought for pos
session OF Vaulx. but British machine
s.nac.s pcs'c: .. 'ae :u'Ss % the
village held the Germans at bay. A
ruined factory served as fortress
despite the Smelling to which IT was
subjected
Not until late In the afternoon was
| II Impossible for the British to hold
me Town longer. Even then the re-
treat only went Tor thousand yards.
Inc british rear guard fought every
Aep OF the way and. returning to the
main body. counter-attack was
inunched against the Germans In pos
session OF 'auix and the village was
reeained.
Inc nghting continued all night
finaiiy 'auix had to be abandoned
before heavy night attacks, but only
because German forces had pushed
past further up the line and were
driving to the attack OF Mory.
Another bitter struggle was fought
around Cro'seiIes. At Mory Scottish
and English troops inflicted tremen-