Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1918-04-05
Important Incidents OfFrst Week
OF Great Battle Are Given
to Public.
GERMAN AIMS NOT REALIZED
Movved Down BY Hatu's Heroic Men.
the kaiseFss Troops Push To
ward the Sonne by Sheer
Force Of Numbers.

severe than In any previous offensive
there has been no cause for pesslmIsm
The German losses have been ter
rife. probably 10000 casualties hav-
ina been suffered by the kaiser's hosts
At such cost they won less than one
third Of the ground on which they had
counted. The morale Of the British
troops has been perfect throughout
and they have fought magnlhccntiy.
Million Germans TN Action.
These facts stand out:
IL Is known that at least 1000 900
Germans were engaged on the whole
front Of attack. In the Somme area
mo- less than 81 army divisions were
Identified. The British line suffered
Its most severe buffcting In this
stretch, but was firm everywhere.
The Germans believed that a loss
Of 600. 600 would be cheap price for
success In the west. but with a loss
already Of 100000 there Ia no pros
pe"t OF their attaining the victory they
seek.
They regaIned all the ground lost In
the Cambria battle and have taken
back sections Of the territory taken
AA AhG SN&AAtIE 0tA&hNtW& Oh
last year.
The fighting was not by any means
q continual German advance. The
British counter-attacked heavily and
sought for every foot OF ground.
Details Of the Fighting.
In one battle on the extreme left
che Germans employed not less than
nine divisions in an effort to break
through. For three days the three
British divisions held them at bay.
Finally, under weight ofsnumbers. the
British retired behind the line marked
by the ruined villages of Bullecou~t,
East Nogueil and Croisesles.
The next morning the Germans re-
newed the attack. striking northward
from Fontainelles and Crofselles and
westward from Cherissy. They drove
In mass formation. wave after wave,
toward the heights between HenIn-sur-
Co1eul to Henin hill.
Two hours of drum FIRE. in which
gas and high~explosive shells were
mingled, preceded thee1nfantry attack.
From eight o'clock In the morning IN
Ill noon continuous waves of gray-elad
troops stormed the heights
British machine guns posted on the
ridge swept down line after line of
Germans. By three o'clock In the aft.
ernoon the Teutons had succeeded In
pressing pnst Henin hin on both sides
gunners posted on the creata. Not
until then did the latter retire and re-
iOfn the main British force.
Similar fighting was going on Mt the
same time on the right wing. Tremen.
doals pressure was brought to bear
around st. Leger. Vanx and Yrau-
court. 1t lasted all day.
1t times under the German blows
the British line sagged heavily. but at
no point did II give way
Desperate Defense OF vauix.
i bitter battle was fought for pos
session OF Vauix. but British machine
guhners posted in the ruins Of the
village held the Germans nt bay. A
ruined factory served as a fortress
deapite the Smelling TO which II was
subjected.
Not until late in the afternoon WINS
It impossible for the British 10 hold
tbs town longer. Even then the re-.
treat only went for a thousand yards.
The British rear guard fought every
step OF the way. and, returning TO the
main body, counter-attaek vas
launched against the Germans In pos
session Of vaulx and the village was
reGalned.
The fighting continued all night.
Finally vaulx had 10 be abandoned
before heavy night attacks. but only
because German forces had pushed
past further up rhe line and were
driving 10 the attack of Mory.
Another bitter struggle was fought
Ardtnd CroiselIes. At Mory Scottish
md English troops inflicted tremen-
do1s losses on The Germans.
Sunday Battle South Of peronns.
The fighting Sunday was tremen-
doIs. Al day long heavy forces Of
Germans endeavored 10 force cross
ing Of the Somine santh of Peronne
while further along The line they ron.
ceufrafed their efforts against In.
paame.
Repeatedly German engineers IT.
tempted 10 throw pontoon bridges
across the river On the near.hy
heights British field guns firing prae.
ficaliy Mt point range smashed every
effort. On some occasions British In
fantry. connter-attacking. dashed into
The water 10 fight the Germans.
With the object Of capturing Ur.
viiiers and EssIgny, southwest ~ ST.
QUENTIN. fhe Germans employed If
leaHt sir divisions. Or Y co men q
sto1ming troops. The 10Th. 18th ire
serKes1 nth. 6sfh. Is7fh and 2seth
In the proportion Of one division to
every British battalion. The ayea age
width Of each attack was 300 yards
Ter Tanks Wresk Havoc Amid Foe.
Fasslng through UrSi1lera the~T Yaa