The Monticellonian., 1918-04-05
HUNS PAY DEARLY
 FUR EVERY GAIN
DETAILS OF FIRST WEEK OF THE GREAT BATTLE TELL OF
 BRITISH HERolSM.
OVERWHELMED BY NUMBERS
Fierceiy contestIns Each Position, Hsia's Men Fell Back in Good Order, Moving Down the Advancing Foe and Often counter-Attacking.


 and Often Counter Attacking.
 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 pesslmism. The German losses have been ter rife, probably 250.0oo casualties hav- 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 magnifcently.
 Million Germans In Action.
 These facts stand out:
 It Is known that at least 100000 Germans were engaged on the whole front of attack. In the Somme area not less than 52 army divisions were identified. The British line suffered its most severe buffeting in this stretch, but was firm everywhere.
 The Germans believed that loss of 100000 would be cheap price for success in the west, but with a loss already of 250.000 there is no pros pect of their attaining the victory they seek.
 They regained ali 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 counter-attacked 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 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 Bullecourt. East Nogueil and Croiselles.
 The next morning the Germans re- newed the attack. striking northward from Fontainelles and Croiselles and westward from Cherissy. They drove in mass formation. wave after wave. toward the heights between Hehin- sur Cojeul to Henin hill.
 Two hours of drum fire, in which gas and high-expleslve shells were mingled. preceded the infantry attack. From eight o'clock in the morning un- til noon continuous waves of gray-elad troops stormed the heights.
 British machine guns posted on the ridge swept down line after line of Germans. By three o'clock in the aft ernoon the Teutons had succeeded in pressing past Henin hill on both sides and threatened to cut of the machine gunners posted on the crests. Not until then did the latter retire and re- join the main British force.
 Similar fighting was going on at the same time on the right wing Tremen- dous pressure was brought to bear around St. Leger. Vaulx and Vrau- court. It lasted all day.
 At times under the German blows the British line salged heavily. but at no point did it give way.
 Desperate Defense of vaulx.
 A bitter battle was fought for pos session of yaulx. but British machine gunners posted in the ruins of the village held the Germans at bay. A ruined factory served as fortress despite the shelling to which 1t was subjected.
 Not until late in the afternoon was it impossible for the British to hold the 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 10 the main body, a counter-attack was launched against the Germans in pos session of Naulx and the village was regalned
 The fighting continued all night Finally Naulx had to be abandoned before heavy night attacks, but only because German forces had pushed past further up the line and were driving to the attack of Mory.
 Another bitter struggle was fought around Croiselles. At Mory Scottish and English troops inflicted tremen dous losses on the Germans.
 Sunday Battle South Of Peroone.
 The fighting Sunday was tremen dous. All day long heavy forces oi Germans endeavored to force q cross ing of the Somme south of peronne while further along the line they con centrated their efforts against Ba paume.
 Repeatedly German engineers at tempted to throw pontoon bridges -~~~-~-~-~-~-~~~