The Benson signal., 1918-04-06

tically at point range smashed every
effort. On some occasions British in
fantry, cOunter-attacking, dashed 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 $4,000 men of
storming troops, the 5Oth, 45th ire
serves), 18th, SSth, 18th and 23Sth
in the proportion of one division to
every British battalion. The average
width Of each attack was 1000 yards.
Ten Tanks Wreak Havoc Amid Foe.
Passing through Urvillers, there was
a bloody struggle in a chalk quarry
where many German dead now lie.
After the Germans had come some way
forward ten British tanks drove into
them and shattered some Of their bat
talions with their machine-gun fire.
dispensing groups Of the advancing
units.
The British fought many rear guard
actions and made numerous counter
attacks in the neighborhood of Roisel,
falling back to the line Of the Somme
only when new masses of Germans
passed through those battalions which
they had not met and beaten.
Between Gozeaucourt and Epephy
occurred a most desperate struggle
The Germans attacked in overwhelm-
ing strength. Their previous bonn
bardment had had little effect and the
British troops had suffered but
slightly.
The weather was misty, and, screen
ed by this mist the Germans were
on top of the British before the lat
ter were aware of it. In dense for
nation they came on, offering excel
lent targets. Ground was yielded by
the British only under pressure Of
overwhelming numbers.
Heroic Deeds of the British.>
Fighting Saturday between Arras
and Bapaume for possession Of the
heights between the Cojeul and Sem
see rivers was especially bitter. Out
numbered eight to one, the British
troops clung to their positions to the
last.
In Gauche wood, where Scots and
South Africans were placed, another
terrific struggle ensued. The Ger
mans several times managed to reach
the wood but were repeatedly thrown
back. Their losses in killed were
especially heavy, as they came on in
mass formation. Attempt after at
tempt was frustrated.
From a height below Gauche wood
known as Chapel hill to Epephy three
German divisions and parts of a
fourth were thrown against the Brit
ish. At one point the enemy was ac-
tually among the British advance
posts before he was discovered. The
fog thoroughly screened him.
Waves of Germans flowed past the
farm and around it, but in the farm
itself the Leicesters held out, fighting
and refusing to surrender until every
man was killed or so severely wounded
he could fight no more.
The British showed the greatest
strength between Bapaume and Pc
rome and above Bapaume as far as
Arras. The Germans, however, con-
cerned with the southern flank, at the
Franco-British junction point, cOncen-
trated their most terrific blows against
the -Chauny line, relying
on the necessity of an automatic Brit
ish withdrawal in the north If their
line was bent or broken in the south.
Bapaume was an obstacle on the
northern side, to capture which they
sacrificed thousands Of their best
troops. Rivers of blood were shed for
the towns possession in combat that
lasted almost all night, until the
British finally yielded the ruins, after
having exacted fearful price.
Kaiser Orders JubIation.
The kaiser was with Field Marshal
Won Hindenburg in Peronne surveying
the bloody fields where thousands of
his best fighting men were killed or
manned before the British finally with
drew. The emperor ordered a general
iubilation throughout the empire,
rockets and flags and holiday for the
children being the chief symbols of
celebration. He conferred a gold in
laid iron cross on Hindenburg.
Wilhelm also sent dispatches to the
empress telling of the progress made