The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-03-26
TERRIFIC TOLL
CONTINUED From first P3gc)

alonu the front. II was a day for
machine gunners and infantry. The
Germans were pushing their tactics
OF working forward in mass torma-
ton. and the British rapid flrer
squads and rlfiemen were reaplng a
horrid harvest from their positions
on the high ground. Notwithstand-
ina their terrible losses. the Ger.
mans kept coming on, filling in the
places Of these who had fallen, and
pressing their attack. The British
artillery in the meantime poured in
perfect rain Of shells, carrying
havoc into the ranks Of the enemy.
In this section the Germans were
operating without the full support
Of their guns, because Of their rapid
advance.
In the north, in the region Of Err.
viIlers, the British last night were
forced once more to abandon Mory,
which had changed hands several
times in the last few days. They fell
back for a short distance and the
battle this morning was staged
largely along the eapaume-Ayras
road. The Germans employed a
LARGE number Of divisions in this as
sault. which in the early hours was
held off by the British guAncrs.
For the last four days French REF
ueecs have been streaming back
from the evacuated towns in large
numbers. Everywhere along the
roads leading to the front were 10
be old men. women and children, all
trudging stocally behind their horse
drawn carts of household furniture,
or even packing i few belongings in
bag on their backs.
Il is possible to-day TO give de-
tails Of that most important phase
Of the battle fought in the sector
between Gouzeaucourt and s..
Quentin. The country here vas
shroudcd in mist Thursday morning,
and the Germans advanced without
being seen, Strong forces Of infant
ny flung themselves across the Brit
i.h front Ilne, and after a fierce
struggle broke through i at several
places They then continued driving
hard for Templeux. near Hargicourt.
Just in front OF the former village
were quarries in which the British
had taken up positions, and here
battle Of great fe'ocIty was "a9ed.
The Germans repeatedly tried to
take the quarries by storm. but so
gallant was the defense Of the COM
)parativcIy small forces that The at
lacking troops were unable to push
their way through.
While this struggle was in prc-
gress the enemy flung five division:
against the line in front Of Harq-
court, and compelled the British to
fall back from that place. This
automatically ended the struggle IN
the TempIeuH Quarries. and the de,
Tenders fell back little.
On Friday a fierce engagement
was waged about LeVcrgulcr. which
the Germans captured. but not until
the British infantry holding the
place had fought to the last man
and inflicted extremely heavy
losses on the enemy. The British
again fell bsck. this time 70 4 line
through HIerviIIy, just cast Of RoiseI
and Vermand.
The Germans captured HcrVI'ly.
but the British came back with the
help Of tanks in a dashing counter
attack which forced the enemy TO
withdraw. The Germans, however,
in an attack further down the line
had forced the British line to swing
back. and the whole front. Of this
sector was compelled to give way
falling back to the line OF the
Scnme.
Every inch Of ground was con-
tested as the British withdrew, and
scn;e Of the most magnificent work
of tho war was done py the hardy
troops who fought the rear guard
action and allowed the main force
to retire in an orderly and moderate
manner
The fighting southwest Of Roisel
was especially severe. On Satur.
day the Germans were tired and
there was no very heavy fighting In
this section. The enemy forcos
pushed forward to occupy the evac-
ua;cd territory. and as they cams
they wcrc deluqcd with shells by
thc British artillery.
no finc- targets could have been
offered to the defending artillery
men, VINO shot all day with open
sIghts ard covered the ground. In
front of them with dead and dying.
On Sunday the Geraane ndVanc
Cd against the Scnnc defencc5,
,,- Loylr, ri.rorfI roprc Of these