The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1918-05-03
BOHEMIAN join
ITALIAN TROOPS
Soldiers Of Dual Monarchy
In Numbers Desert To
Allies.
AMERICANS IN VICTORY
Gen. Pershing's Men lnhict
Heavy Losses On The
Enemy.
AMERICANS IN VICTORY

, With the French Army in France,
May IA heavy German attack
launched yesterday against the Amer
leans in the vicinity of Nillers-Breton-
neaux was repulsed with heavy losses
for the enemy. The German prelim-
mary bombardment lasted two hours,
and then the infantry rushed for
ward. only to be driven back leaving
large numbers OF dead on the ground
in front of the American lines.
The German bombardment opened
at s o'clock in the afternoon and was
directed especially against the Amer
leans, who we're supported on the
north and south by the French. The
fire was intense, and at the end OF
two hours the German commander
sent forward three battalions OF in
fantry. There was handto-hand
fighting all along the line as result
of which the enemy was thrust back,
his dead and wounded lying on the
ground In all directions. Five pris-
oners remained in American hands.
The struggle, which lasted a con-
siderable time, was extremely vio-
lent. and the Americans displayed
marked bravery turnout.
A II was the first occasion In which
the Americans were engaged in the
big battle which has been raging since
March 81, and their French COM
rades are full OF praise for the man
j. ner In which they conducted them
selves under trying circumstances,
especially in view of the fact that
they are fighting at one of the most
difficult points on the battlefront.
The American losses were rather
severe.
Enemy Army Joins Allies.
The Bohemian troops are joining
the Italians against Austria, accord
ing to the London Mails correspond
ent at Italian headquarters. Even
now some OF the Bohemians are on
the Italian line, clad in Italian uni
forms.
This information has passed thru
the hands of both Italian and British
censors and would therefore appear
10 be authentic. The detection OF the
Bohemians would in a measure ex-
plain the delay in the proposed great
offensive, long heralded, OF the Aus
TRANS against the Italians.
Prague, capital OF the crownland
of Bohemia, has recently been the
center of riotous demonstrations
against Germany and the Germans.
The Hungarian Foreign Minis
ter Count Czernin, has been strong
lv denounced and President Wilson
and the Entente allies have been
cheered. The Czech members OF
Parliament, together with the Slovene
and Serbo-Croat delegates have been
leaders in the opposition to German
rule.
American troops around Nillers-
Bretonneaux, engaged for the hrst
time in the great battle on the
French front, have repulsed stern
German attack, preceded by a heavy
bombardment and carried out by
three battalions of infantry. The
Germans left many dead and wound
ed before the American lines. The
American losses are reported as
rather severe"
Having been defeated with enor-
nous losses in every phase of the
fighting around Ypres, the Germans
have attempted no further on
slaughts. Inaction prevailed wed
nesday before the positions held by
the British and French troops es-
pecially those in the hands OF the
British, which it had been the ambi-
ton of the Germans to capture.
Since Monday what activity there
has been in this region was carried
out by the British and French, both
of whom have materially bettered
their positions-the French near
Locre and the British at Meteren' On
both sectors ground was captured and
prisoners were taken.
The pause in the offensive, howeV-
er, apparently is not to be taken as