Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-29
HAIC'S VETERANS
HOLDING TEUTONS
Divisions Worn by March
81 Battle Bear Brunt
of Attack
YIELD GROUND SLOWLY
Bv PHILIP GIBBS

Bv PHILIP GIBBS
Special Cable to Evening Public Ledger
Copyright. 1918, By Nep York Times Co.
War Correspondents Headquarters on
the Western Front. May 30.
When the Germans attacked in
Flanders between the neighborhood of
the Locre Hospice and Kruistra. a
front Of about FIVE miles, they we're
able after violent gunflre to take a
few of the French outposts. like
Pompier and Estaminet and the farm
near 1t, which the French themselves
had gained by their successful effort
on May 20. and here and there they
penetrated the French forward line
as in copses east of Dickebusch Lake.
Tuesday morning the French troops
counterattacked and restored the sit.
uation almost exactly as IL was. with
the exception that small party of
Germans remained this morning in
one Of these copses, covered by the
machine.gun fire Of the French. They
suffered a number Of casualties. and
machine guns.
At the moment Of the German at.
tack yesterday. II was doubtful
whether II was intended as serious
effort to gain ground in depth. and
whether the first assault would be
followed by succeeding waves to carry
1t through against the main French
defenses. It is now fairly clear that
this was not intended. but 1t was a
minor action to grab back just the
stretch Of territory which had been
lost on the Goth and also, no doubt as
demonstration timed to coincide
with the great battle down south along
the line of the Aisne.
German prisoners are Of this opin.
ion, and. anyhow, It does not matter
very much one way or another. now
that the operations are held in check
by the French. who have re-estab.
lished their positions.
Interest Shifts to Aisnc
For the time being the interest Of
the war is shifted to the position on
the Aisne. where the enemy has
struck heavily in great force. while
still threatening our northern front
with huge numbers Of men and ar.
tillery concentration. With that bat.
tie I have nothing to do as war
correspondent. as 1t Is outside my
boundary. but up here in the north
our thoughts are with those divisions
of ours. the Eighth. Twenty.first. Twen.
ty.fifth and Fiftieth. which have been
heavily engaged in this new battle
along the Aisne in the midst of French
troops.
It is hard luck on them. but they
have fought with the courage that
made their divisions glorious in many
battles. 1t is hard luck on them. for
they helped to bear the brunt of the
German onslaught of March 81 and
the following weeks. and their bat
talions fought day after day and night
after night against Overwhelming
odds, falling back slowly at times be-
fore the enemy's great weight. hut
always keeping their face to the foe
and fighting rearguard actions which
made the German pay frightful
price and at last brought him to a
dead halt.
These Are Brave Men
The Northumberland fusilers and
other battalions of the Fiftieth Divi.
sion were men who had made forced
march to the battlefields of the Lys
when the Portuguese were broken
and by the sheer valor Of the young
officers. sergsants. corporals and pri.
vate soldiers hghting in small bodies
holding isolated positions. holding on
to the death when surrounded by
hordes Of Germans. cking
with weak numbers against three
times or five times their own. stag.
gering UP to new attacks when at
last they were so tired that they could
hardly stand or walk or keep awake
stopped the gap which the enemy tried
to force and broke the head of his
battering ram.
So was it with the other British
divisions. The Eighth faced the enc
- 4
battlefield and helped stem tnat tide
by their bodies, barring the way ia
Amiens, their spirit never failing
though their losses were many. and
obeying the comma nder.in chiefs
watchword Of fighting to the last with
their backs to the wall.
The Twenty.first division are vet
Of fire was in the battle Of Loos ages
ago. as time counts now. They toe
were in the retreat that followed
March 81 of this spring. and theii
rearguard actions were fought by small
bodies of men tried to the last poin
Of human fatigue, but never giving ur
ground without taking toll of the
enemy.
Tried Veterans Face Attack
The Twenty.fifth division fought al
through from Wytschaete Ridge t
the enc OF tH6 idHucIS DdttIeS las
year. and then when the German Of
fensive began at the end of Marcf
this year fought again. as then. witt
dosged devotion and pride beyond thu
fear of death. They had long hare
innings, too long except for our grea
need, too hard except that they neve
lost their fighting spirit. and in sepa
rate bodies between Stenwerk ant
Messines they stuck it out, not onl,
with amazing endurance. but with
quality of courage which enable,
them to attack and counter.attack. s,
that the enemy had to give groun,
before them.
Those English county troops are tn
men against whom the enemy ha
hurled new masses of fresh troops
and the heart of their old cpmrade
i'm here in the north goes out to them