The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1918-04-04
GERMANS
WITHOUT SLEEP
BRITISH BATTAL!oNs WIN GLORY
BY FEAT IN HOLDING BACK
AVALANCHE OF lNVAb-

April l.-lBy philip Gibbs OF The New
York Times il have said much al
ready about the magnificent courage
of the British infantry and their en-
durance through these tragic days and
nights, 80 resolutc and so strong that
they laN" kept i'm check the whole
an The western front, apart from the
divisions holding quiet sectors of the
line. NO praise is too high for these
English, Scottish, and Irish bhttalons
of The 2lst. 3lst. iith. i1th. aGth.
18th 63d, 18TH, and other glorious
divisions, who without rest or sleep
for several days and nights kept back
This human avalanche.
But the British 2unners also are he
You'd all words of praise and gratitude
because of their unfailing endoavors.
Many of their guns We're overwhelmed
week ago in The wild storm of fire
flung over the British lines. but those
who escaped from this monstrous
in action ever since. The officers and
men OF the gun teams have isotsssa,are,;
themselves to protect The infantry and
destroy the enemy.
Most of the Big Guns Saved.
have seen solRn of them in action
during this fighting and have marvel
ed at their coolness. Nj times their Of
ilcers are hoarse With shouting the
word "Fire". and dazed for lack Of
sleep but clear-headcd enough to see
the :. O. :. signal and get straight
target. They saved nearly ali our heavy
guns. and have trudgcd back over the
battlehclds, over the terrible broken
ground between Bapaume and Albert
and between places like Gollzeaucourt
and Ham. urging on their slow-g going
caterpillars and encouraging the men.
The British heavios are ready for
more work again, if ever there IS
chance of fixed positions. and mean
while the lighter guns are keeping up
the chorus of fire along The whole
sweep of the enenly's line. Ii is the
fire maintained by these gunners and
the work of the wagon drivers who
there is always heap of shells around
every battery that has inflicted such
fearful losses on the German troops.
apart from the never silent blast of
the machine gun fire and rifle fire of
our infantry outposts.
Airmen Drive Germans From Roads to
Fields.
The enemy has also suffered from
attacks by our alrmen. so sensational
and destructive that the main roads
have been cleared of his troops and
they have been forced to take to The
open country. | know of many cases
of airmen of ours Who. during this bat
tie. have gone out over the Bapaume-
Albert road and otner highways be
hind the German lines, flying no high
er than 500 feet. and dropping bombs
into masses of moving troops, and az
Ter scattering large columns chasing
them With deadly machine gun fire and
inflicting many casualties.
On Thursday morning our airinen
Were flying like that over the roads
was they who brought back news of
The new concentration for the attack
which began soon after They had flung
their challenge of death into these as
semblies
Scenes Behind the Lines.
| must add lo what said before
about the divisions Which have been
in this lighting. though nothing that ]
could saN would picture the splendof
Of these men among Whom have been
TODAY. They We're dog tired and dirty.
and a cruel east wind WAS cutting them
after a night of intense cold in the
lines. They Mere unshaNen, tlicN liac
tied shawls around their heads under
their steel hats They Mere powdered
with dust and chalk. but they held
their beads high and their limbs
straishtened up as their bands march
ed at The head of HE columns. And in
other fields and roads Were bodies OF
men waiting to go into action. or Just
out of hattie, sleeping in every attitude
of restfulness. with their heads on
each other shoulders. or hunrled to-
| gether for warmth or with Their faces
covered by blankets and their hairy
rnals turknl LII In their ears