Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-01

the trenches or hidden it In caves. He
had concealed many batteries and not
fired single registering shot, relying
on the skill of his gunners to get their
targets when the battle opened. He had
not flown single airplane. but had kept
his fighting squadrons back until he was
ready to send over swarms on the
morning of the battle.
So there were the British divisions,
heading a long line with weak forces,
called to make instant preparations to
act against at least three times their
own numbers The danger of the situa-
tion was obvious. Behind them was the
Aisne, with thrty-four bridges on the
six miles of front held by the Eighth
| division and others east and west of
them. All their field guns were forward
of the river in order to be within effec-
tive range Of the German position.
That night the men were moved up 10
their positions and orders were given
| The outposts were to fight to the last
man and the battle zone was to be held
at all costs These orders, terrible in
their significance were carried out to the
letter, and all the gallant outposts fought
in those forward lines until they were
almost wiped out.
There was a heavy mist all the night
before the attack and at l in the morn
]
bombardment opened with a terrific in
tensity. The enemy fred large numbers
of trench mortars of all calibers on the
| front positions, using their artillery for
| the British battery areas and rear posi-
tions, upon which they poured an enor-
nous quantity of high-explosive and gas
| shells
The infantry assault began about 4
in the morning, and by o'clock reports
| were received at headquarters that the
enemy was attacking in the battle zone
and that all units in the outpost line
had been cut off to a man. At that time
| the fog was so thick that men could see
only forty to fifty yards ahead.
At sos a pigeon message, dated 5:15
a. m. was received from the colonel of
the Royal Berks saying that he and his
headquarters staff were surrounded. THE
! Germans threw bombs down the dugout,
he wrote, land passed on. They appear
| to approach from the right in consid-
cradle strength. No idea what has hap
pened elsewhere. Holding out in hopes
of relief"
That was one of the few messages
received from the men on the other side
of the river.
Up there in the outpost line the
thrust of the Germans seems to have
!
vision was involved, on the right, and
the men, holding and fighting desperate
| ly. were gradually forced back, except
where the Berks were still holding their
ground.
Re-enforcements from a Lanca shire
regiment were sent forward in support
and the troops continued to resist stub
bornly, causing the enemy heavy losses
until they were borne down by over.
whelming weight of numbers. the Ger.
mans using tanks against those on the
left. BY 6: 80 O'Clock that morning the
brigade on the right had fallen back to
the line of the river at Germicourt.
Meanwhile the troops holding the
center and left had been fiercely at
tackled from about o'clock and these
including the Northumberlands, who
We're very gallant held their positions
in the battle zone against repeated on
slaughts until the Germans crossed the
little river Miette in a turning move
ment from the southeast, taking them
in flank and rear.
The general who was in command or
the right. finding enemy behind him
gathered his staff together, and this
small party of officers and men fought
their way through, killing a number OF
Germans who tried to surround them.
Further forward his men were fighting
to the last, and a few came back.
On the left the Northumberlands
Yorks and other North County infantry
managed to hold out some time in the
outpost line with magnificent courage
and later held isolated positions in the
battle zone through which the enemy
had broken, against all attacks, and