The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-05-03
ALLIES COMMENCE
ATTACK ON TEUTS
SLIGHT PROGRESS MADE AGAINST
ADVANTAGEOUS HIGH
HUN POSITIONS.
ENEMY HOLDS KENNEL HILL
French Regiment Ordered to Hold
Elevation at All Costs and None
of Them Live to Tell About
Bitter Fight.

With the British Army in Frame,
April 27.-The allied armies yesterda
took the initiative on both the norther
and southern ends of the battle from
British and French troops, acting i
conjunction, began counter operation
in the region of Mont KENNEL and tn
neighboring territory which the Gel
mans captured in Thursdays sanguir
airy struggle.
The aggressors at the time of tn
filing of this dispatch had made som
progress, but they were battling il
the face of great odds, and heav
fighting was continuing with the en-
envy holding the advantageous higl
ground in strength.
South of the Somme the allied force
launched a combined drive against tn
German positions between Hangart
and the southern outposts of Villers
Bretonneaux. The latest reports re
corded some progress, but an intense
conflict was in progress and the stu
alton was nebulous.
Allies Retake Villages.
Thursday Villers- Bretonneau1 had
been cleared of the enemy, who over
ran it Wednesday, and the British
by brilliant counter attacks, had re-
taken virtually all their original posi-
lions.
The main interest from the military
point of view now centers in the north
ern contest, where the Germans have
been making such determined efforts
to gain control of the chain of hills,
of which KENNEL is one, and thereby
threaten the allied positions to the
north.
Yesterday found the Germans hold
ing the salient which they had driven
into the French and British lines be-
yond Mont KENNEL, KENNEL village,
Dranoutre and farms and hamlets in
the immediate vicinity. A gallant
regiment of poilus had been ordered
TO hold KENNEL Hill at all costs. After
the Germans had broken through the
defending lines and were eneircling the
elevation, the French clung to their
positions and obeyed their commands to
lAfE lDbLEt- DdbliGu W liit DllltT
end and overwhelming forces of the
enemy were able to gain the crest only
over the bodies of these gallant defend
ers. No more drastic and inspiring
stand has been made in recent days
than this.
The allied counter attack began at
an early hour yesterday morning.
While the French infantry drove for
ward against KENNEL from the west,
their British comrades began opera
tions on their left. In the first rush
the sturdy British ToInmies forced
their way forward in the face of o
heavy fire and got into KENNEL viii
1age. 1t was a striking exhibition of
bravery that took the men in khaki
across the open ground that was being
swept with machine gun fire.
Tommies Withdraw From Village.
For two hours they held the village
while the Germans from the neighbor-
ing hill poured bullets into the place
from rapid firers. AT five o'clock it
became apparent that it would be
useless sacrifice to remain longer and
the British were withdrawn to safer
grounds from which the assault con
tinued.
The French are reported to have
made some progress but they too were
coming under grilling fire from Mont |
KENNEL and other points. 1t was OBJ
vious that it would be extremely diff |
ficult to Gust the Germans from this |
position. which they held |
with large numbers of heavily armed |
men.
How long the French regiment was |
able to continue its dramatic resist |
ance on the crest of Mont KENNEL |
Thursday may never be known until |
the German historians record it after
he war 1t was about 9 o'clock in the !
when the Germans finally |
in encircling KENNEL after
forcing back the allied line at the |
junction of the French and British
vest of Wytschaete. From that time
Until late in the day regiments chung
o the hill and continued a terrible
among the enemy troops,
With machine guns. Beyond that moth
ng is known of their fate.
There were very heavy attacks
against the British on the French
eft all day Thursday. The British
began pushing troops
lown the gap after the Germans had
lriven an entering wedge, and hard
lighting ensued. A particularly san
urinary struggle was waged at Vier-
lere the contending troops fought in