The Carlisle independent., 1918-04-04

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 and Often counter-Attaeking.
 LondOn.-Details of the first week of the great battle in France show that while the fighting has been more severe than in any previous offensive there has been no cause for pessimism.
 The German losses have been ter rife, probably 250,O00 casualties hay Ing 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 magnitieently.
 Million Germans in Action.
 These facts stand out:
 + is known that at least 100000 Germans were engaged on the whole front of attack. In the Semme area not less than D army divisions were identified. The British line suffered its most severe bufeting in this stretch, but was firm everywhere.
 The Germans believed that a loss of 500000 would be a cheap price for success in the west. but with a loss already of 250.00O there is no pros Deer of their attaining the victory they seek
 They regained all the ground lost in the Cambrai battle and have taken back sections of the territory taken from them iu the Somme offensive of last year.
 The fighting was not by any means continual German advance. The British counter=atfacked heavily and fought for every foot of ground
 Details Of the Fighting.
 h one battle on the extreme left the Germans employed not less than nine divisions in an effort te break through. For three days the three British divisions held them at bay. Finally, under weight of numbers. the British retired behind the line marked by the ruined villages of BufIeeeurt, East Noguen and CroiseIaes.
 The next morning the Germans re- Bewed the attack. striking Horthward from FCntalnelles and Croiselles and westward from CherisSy They drove iH mass formation, wave after wave. toward the heights between Heain-sur- EojeuI to Heuin hill
 Two hours of drum fire. in which ges and high-explosive shells were mingled preceded the infantry attacll. From eight o'clock in the morning un- ta noon continuous waves of gray-clad +T Y,g.
 lE-5Jish machine guns posted on the ridge swept down line after line of Germans. By three o'clock in the aft e noon the Teu5ons had succeeded in pressing past Henin hiIi on both sides and threatened to cut off the machine gunHers posted on the crests. Nor until then did the latter retire and re- jon the main British force
 Similar fighting was going on gt the same time oa the right wing. HtsHlen- g1ous pressure WAS brought 10 bear around St. Leeer. Yaulx and Trau- -coult Ii lasted all day.
 Ae times under the German blows mo British line sagsed heavily, but at TO point did fl give way.
 Desperate Defense q Va4lx.
 4 bitter ba1Jle was fought for pos session of Eaufx but Bri7t~f machine gunners posted la rhe rgiHs af the village held the Germans ar bay. A ruined factory served IS a fortress despite the sheitng to which it was subjected.
 Not until late in the afternoon was t impossible for the British to hold tha 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 q couuter-attac1 was launched against the Germans in pos session of Yaulx and the village was re4aiacd.
 The fighting continued all night. Finally Faulx had to be abandoned before heavy night attacks, but only because German forces had pushed Fast further up the line and were driving to the attack of Mory.
 Another bitter struggle vas fought around Croiselles. At Mory Scottish and English troops inflicted trenen- dous losses on the Germans.
 Sunday Battle South Of Peronne.
 The fighting Sunday was remen- dous. All day long heavy forces of Germans endeavored to force a cross ing of the Somme south of Peronue while further along the line they con centrated their efforts against Ba- paume.
 Repeatedly German engineers at tempted to throw pontoon bridges