Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-04-03
BRITISH UNDROKEN,
HUNS SLAUGHTERED
important Incidents Of First Week
of Great Battle Are Given
to Public.
GERMAN AIMS NOT REALIZED
Moved Down by Hals's Heroic Men,
the kslsers Troops Push To-
ward the Sonnn1e by Sheer
Force Of Numbers


Of the great battle in France show
that, while the fighting has been more
severe than I'm any previous offensive,
there has been no cause for pessimism.
The German losses have been ter
rife. probably 100000 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 magnlfcently.
Million Germans in Action.
These facts stand ont:
II is known that at least 100000
Germans were engaged on the whole
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 cheap price for
success In the west, but with a loss
already of 100000 there is no pros
poet 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
continual German advance. The
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 ia an effort to break
, 'fhrough For three days the three
h divisions held them at bay
Iy, under weight Of numbers, the
h retired behind the line marked
ruined villages Of BullecOurt,
Sogueil and CroiSelles
~. next morning the Germans re-
sRewed the attack. striking northward
from Fontalnelles and CroiSelles and
westward from Cherlssy. They drove
in mass formation, wave after wave,
toward the heights between Henln-sur-
Cojeul to Henin hill.
Two hours OF drum fire, I'm which
gas and high-explosive shells were
mingled, preceded the infantry attack.
From eight o'clock in the morning un-
I'll noon continuous waves Of gray-clad
troops stormed the heights.
British machine guns posted on the
ridge swept down line after line of
Germans. BY three O'Clock in the aft
ernoon the Teutons had succeeded in
pressing past Henin HIN on both sides
and threatened to cur off the machine
gunhefs posted on the crests. Not
until then did the hitter 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 nd Yrau-
court, It lasted all day.
At times rnder the German blows
the British Inc sagged heavily, but at
no point did It give way.
Desperate Defense of Vaulx.
bitter battle was fought for pos
session of Yaulx. but British machine
gunners posted in the ruins of the
village held The Germans at bay. 4
ruined factory served as a fortress
despite the Smelling to which it was
subjected.
Net until late in the afternoon was
II impossible for the British 10 hold
the town longer. Even then the re-
treat only went for a thousand yards.
The British rear guard fought every
step Of the way, and. returning to the
main body, counter-attack was
launched against the Germans in pos
session Of Vaulx and the ulage was
regained.
The fighting continued all night
Finally Vaulx 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 Croiselles. At Mory Scottish
and English troops inflicted tremen-
dous losses on the Germans
Sunday Fiatte South of Peronne.
The fighting Sunday was tremen-
dous. All day long heavy forces Of
Germans endeavored to force u cross.
ing Of the Somme south OF Peronne.
whlle further along the line they con
centrnted their efforts against Ba-
paurne.
Repeatedly German engineers at
tempted to throw pontoon bridges
across the river. On the nearby
heights British field guns firing prac-
tlcally at point range smashed every
effort. On some occasions British In
fantry, counter-attacking dash-,' into
the water TO fight the Germans.
With the object of capturing Ur-
vIllers and Essigny, southwest Of st.
Quentin. the Germans employed at
least six divisions. or 1900 men OF
storming troops. the 50th 45th IRE
serves. 11th. SSth. 18th and 23Sth,
in the proportion of one division 70
every British battalion, The average
width of each attack was 1000 yards
Ten Tanks Wreak Havoc Amid Foe.
Passing through UrvillerS, there was
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