New-York tribune., 1918-04-22

and his dozen men dead and about
them were the bodies OF fifty Germans.
The French came back with word Of
the situation and brought with them
a number of German prisoners from
beyond the farm. This piece of chivalry
spread among the British and drove
the entering wedge for the friendship
which followed.
The situation last night along the
front was generally quiet and un
changed. There was the usual artillery
firing, but most Of the infantry actions
were small operations. During the
night the British pushed forward and
improved their line east of Riez du Vim
age, and they also carried out g salts
factory movement at Hinges Rrdge,
south of Pacaut Forest.
Amiens Cathedral Damaged
An attempted enemy advance against
the British positions on Frezenberg
spur, northeast Of Ypres, was stopped
ny artillery fire East Of Arras the
Germans tried to rush some gunpits
which were captured by the British yes
terday, but the attack was repused.
Parties of the enemy are continually
trying to get over the abandoned area
north of Ypres. but up to. the present
all these attempts have been stopped
by artillery and machine-gun fire.
The airmen continue to do great
damage over the enemy areas. Friday
night direct hits were obtained with
bombs on three trains standing in the
Chaulnes junction, and an ammunition
train at Rosieres was blown up.
An unusual air battle was witnessed
last evenin" near Ware between Brit
ish and German plane. The aviators
engaged in a heated exchange OF ma
1.,11 1<.%c SIX -, l.
swerved about each other. At times
manmuvred for position. Finally, the
German, in a mad sweep to get where
he could operate his gun to better adj
vantage, crashed into the British pilot.
The collision was terrific and both ma
chimes swirled earthward In flames.
A curious incident has been reported
from the Merville sector. A few days
ago a large herd of cows which had
been abandoned was still grazing in No
Mans Land, between >Nieppe Forest and
Merville. The British Tommies sat in
their defences for long time, specu-
lating longingly how fresh milk would
taste. Finally the desire for milk be-
came overpowering. Some hardy pio-
neers ventured forth with tins, and
amidst the singing Of bullets milked
the cows. Doing dairy work in No
Mans Land these days is the task of a
man.
The Germans continue to shell and
bomb Amiens. Many buildings in the
city have been demolished and the ia
nous cathedral has suffered consider
able damage, mainly from broken Win
COWS. The detonations of bombs OF
shells dropped in the square fronting
the cathedral have destroyed a large
of f0r lokf ~ oo1,
hundred years or more and ire
placeable. Some chips have been bro
ken from the walls of the edifce, but
up to yesterday the building itself
was little damaged.
| No branch of the service has had 6
harder time or done more brilliant
work since the inception of the Of
/ fensive than the medical corps, which
by the way, has in its ranks many
| American physicians, surgeons ant
nurses.
Hospitals Were Saved
When the Germans surged forwart
over their wide battlefront and strucl
! deep into the Allied territory they over
ran places where for long time Brit
ish advanced casualty clearing station!
had been established. 1t is an arduou
task to move field hospital, with IT.
heavy equipment, to say nothing o
hundreds of wounded men who almos
always fill the wards. But while SOM
of the weighty material was lost, thest
hospitals were pulled back, and no
only that, but the medical corps, 81
to speak, fought rearguard action b.
establishing emergency stations as the.
retired and taking care of newl.
wounded who were continually stream
ing back from the ncighborng battl
lines
1t was only about ten days ago tina
the correspondent was talking with
medical officer in casualty clearing
station in the back area, where only
few wounded had yet arrived. The cor
respondent was curious at the lack o
patients, in view Of the great numbe
of men necessarily wounded, and mad
Inquiries.
"We have very few cases from tn,
front as yet. because the advanced sta
tions have been taking care of them,
| replied the doctor simply.
1t seems inconceivable that this coul'
be accomplished, looking at the grea
, German advance. In ordinary circum
stances it. requires 100 motor lorries t,
move hospital which accommodate
1,00C.. patients, and few Of the mali
clearing stations handle a less numbe
! Of patients than this. The medica
corps, however, has scheme whereof,
! nine lorries can carry back sufficien
equipment for a station with 200 beds
This material is rushed of to form tn,
nucleus Of new quarters further back
TO which the remaining equipment i
brought if possible.
When the offensive opened the Brit
ish had big advance stations at sucl
/ places az Noyon, Cugny, Ham. Grcvil
! lcrs and Achict-c- Grand. All thcs,
almost Immediately came under press
ure az the Germans swarmcd swift,
I forward Practically the same scene,
were enacted at all of these places a,
their evacuation was carried out dur
ing the first and second days.
With the beginning Of the drive
shells and bombs began to rain abouI
the stations with their crowded wards
but physicians and nurses stuck to the
last possible moment, although mum
bers Of them were killed or wounded
At one place several orderlies were
killed and The lighting system of the
operating room wrecked on the first
day.