The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1918-05-18
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Hun PLANE CtNOtFIiGF

ground lost In similar attacks b
Eritish and French Yesterday morn
ing a thrust against the Australian
vest and southwest OF Morlancouri
between the rivers. broke down com
pletely The Australians in a secle
cf daring little attacks. had carriet
tie front forward nearly mile II
some flaces This cramped the enc
uys infantry in narrow triangle
east of Corbie Just before O'Clock
yesterday morning the Germans put
down a sharp barrage and followed
with an infantry advance on a front
of about three quarters Of a mile.
The Australian front trenches were
penetrated at one point. but a counter
| attcack restored the entire line and
! YIELDED fifty-two prisoners. Later
they tried TO minimize their defeat
by describing the operations as "a
raid" Whatever its intention. N,
result was a heavy casualty list. for
the open ground in front OF the Aus-
t,alian wires was covered with bod
les. The French have crushed sew
erai similar minor attacks on their
front, and near the British flank in
landers We find the same result
The mound called Hi 81. about
tWo-thirds Of a mile west OF vier-
STRAITS. has been the scene Of sue
cessye attacks and counter attacks
after Il was regained by the French
saturday The enemy tried again TO |
take it Sunday and failed Monday
evening another German attack was |
launched against Il and some elements !
OF one infantry wave obtained lodg
ment on the side Yesterday morning
the French turned them off with the
bayonet Today | hear the Germans
Il ed again in tentative kind OF way
without making the slightest head
way. Between the hill and ridge
wood. their goal. the enemy has tried
twice to reach and hold there has
been brisk fighting during the morn
ing.
The lessons OF these failures north
and south seem to be that the Ger
man divisions can not hope to make
the slightest progress. unless hey are
thrown in with tremendous weight and
sacrificed as they were in the first
tao great attacks Whenever they
ATTEMPT local successes they meet the
same solid resistance as during the
trench warfare
Can't Hold Gains.
German artillery my blast a path
through our new wire and even wipe
DGt freshly dug trenches as at Ridge
oOd. but The men who follow in the
wake OF the barrage can not stick to
ihe ground when counter er-attacked.
i hese last attacks have shown a
spirit. Australians had no
difficulty in eyicting the assaulting
troops near Morlancouri, and the pris-
Olers they took were very tame.
1t is the Old story" said an Off
Ger today When they advance a
nile or two and realize that they
have qlenty OF support behind them.
tier tails 20 up The constant gun
n-Ag wears them down. and they hate
local shows. Then We take prisoners
who evince what is called poor morale I
prisoners who admit quite frankly
they didn't expect the offensive to be (
a lengthy affair. Some OF them be-
lieyed the war would be practically
over by June l.
Amiens was to have been taken in
: week. Il is nearly two months
s.nce the big drive began. and the
enemy l. no nearer Amiens than he
vas six weeks ago. He has been
held as firmly in Flanders. The
German higher command now knows.
the British and French can not be
separated and that the formidable
allied army is planted firmly across
their northern sath and they must go
cu.
OF course. think they will try
again very soon. but am sure there
5 not the same degree OF confidence
r high quarters and certainly not in
the rank and file OF the Germany
army. oh. these damned Englssh.'
srote one Prussian soldier after the
est defeat al villers- -Bretonneux.
b hich he describes as the gate Of
amiens- They make US fight for
very yard Of ground: they keep US
rom getting on. the stubbon swine.
When viii il all endy
The dream OF easy conquest ap-
ears to be vanishing"