The Nevada County picayune., 1918-04-04
HUNS PAY DEARLY
 FOR EVERY CAIN
DETAILS OF FIRST WEEK OF THE GREAT BATTLE TELL OF
 BRiTl5H HERoISm.
OVERWHELMED BY NUMBERS
FierceIy contesting Each Position, Hsig's Men Fell Back in Good Order, Moving Down the Advancing Foe and Often Counter Attacking.

and Often Counter Attacking.
 London-DetaiIs 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 250000 casualties hay ing been suffered by the kalser'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 masnificently.
 Million Germans in Action.
 These facts stand out:
 II Is known that at least 100000 Germans were engaged on the whole front of attack. In the Somme area not less than g army divisions were Identified The British line suffered it's most severe buffeting in this stretch. but was firm everywhere
 The Germans believed that a loss of 500,000 would be Il cheap price for success in the west, but with a loss already of 2500O0 there is no pros pect 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 in the Somme offensive of last year
 The fighting was not by any means continual German advance. The British countcr-attaclled heavily and fought for every foot of ground.
 Details of the Fighting.
 In one battle on the extreme left the Germans employed not less than nine divisions in an effort to break through. For thtee 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 Bullecourt, East Nogueil and Croisel5es.
 The next morning the Germans re newed the attack, striking northward from FontaInelles and CroSelles and westward from GheriSsY. They drove in mass formation. wave after wave, toward the heights between Henin-sur- Cojeui 10 Henin hill.
 Two hours of drum fire. in which gas and high-exploSive shells were mingled. preceded the Infantry attacli. From eight o'clock in the morning uu- til noon continuous waYeS of gray-Clad troops stormed the heights.
 British machine guns posted on the ridge swept down line after line oc Germans By three o'clock in the aft ernoon the Teutons had succeeded in pressing past Henin hili on both sides and threatened 10 cut on the machine gunncrs posted on tho crcSts, Not until then did the latter retire and re- join the main British force.
 Similar fighting was going an at the sane time on the right wing Bremen. dous pressure was brought 10 bear around st Leser, YauN and Xrau- court IL lasted all day,
 Al times under the German blows the British line SuEged heavily but al no point did if give way.
 Desperate Defense of Vaulx.
 A bitter battle was fought for pos session of Vaulx. but Eriish machlne gunuers posted in th. ra.us If che village held the Germaus at bay. A ruined factory served as a fortress despite the shelling to which il Was subjected
 Not until late in the afternoon was 1t impossible for the British to hold the town longer Even then the re- treat oniy went for thousand yards Tue British rear guard fought every step Of the way. and returning 10 the main body. n Couuter=atack was launched against the Germans In pos session of Saulx and the VillaEe was reguined
 Tie fighting continued all night. Finally NaulX had 10 be abandoned before heavy night attacks, but oaiy because German forces had pushed past further up the line and were driving to the attack of MerH.
 Another bitter struggle was fought around CroiselleS. Al Mory Scottish and English troops inflicted tremen. douS losses on the Germans.
 Sunday Battle South of Peronne.
 The fighting Sunday was tremen. dous. An day long heavy forces of Germans endesvored to force a cross ing Of the Somme south of Peronne while further along the line they con eentrated their efforts against Ea paHme.
 Repeatedly German engineers at tempted to throw pontoon bridges