The state herald., 1918-04-05
BRITISH UNBROKEN,
HUNS SLAUGHTERED
important Incidents Of First Week
Of Great Battle Are Given
to Public.
GERMAN AIMS NOT REALIZED
Moved Down BY Halo's Heroic Men,
the kalser's Troops Push To
ward the Somms by Sheer
Force Of Numbers.

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
rinc. probably 250.000 casualties hav-
ing been suffered BY the kniser'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 magnificently.
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 81 army divisions were
identified. The British line suffered
in most severe buffeting In this
stretch. but was firm everywhere.
The Gemans believed that a loss
Of 10000 would be . cheap price for
success in the west. but with loss
already Of 10000 there is no pros
pect Of their attaining the victory they
eesk.
They regained all the ground lost In
the Cambria battle and have taken
back sections Of the territory taken
from them In the Somme offensive of
last year.
Tho fighting was not by any means
a 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 ut bay.
Finally, under weight Of numbers. the
British retired behind the line marked
BY the ruined villages of Bullecourt.
East Noguell and Croiseiles.
The next morning the Germans re-
newed the attack. striking northwnrd
from Fontainelles and Croiselles and
westward from Cherlssy. They drove
IN mass formation, wave after wave.
toward the heights between Henin-sur-
Cojeuj to Henin hill.
Two hours Of drum fire, in which
gas and high-explosive shells were
mingled. preceded the infantry attack.
From eight O'Clock in the morning un-
Ill noon continuous waves Of grny.clad
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
sfnoon the Teutons had succeeded In
pressing past Henin hill on both sides
and threatened 70 cut of the machine
gunners posted on the crests. Not
until then did the latter retire and re-
join the main British force.
Similar lighting was going on at the
same time on the right wing. Tremen-
dous pressure was brought to bear
around St. Lcger. vaux and vrau-
court. It lasted all day.
At times under the German blows
the British line saGged heavily. but at
no point did Il give way.
Desperate Defense q vauix.
A bitter battle was fought for pos
ssasion Of vaulx, but British machine
gunners posted In the ruins Of the
village held the Germans at bay. A
ruined factory served M fortress
despite the shelling to which Il was
subjected.
Not until late In the afternoon was
II 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 NJ the way. and. returning TO the
main body. counter-at;nck was
launched against the Germans In pos
session Of vnulx and the village was
regained.
The fighting continued all night.
Finally vaulx 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 Croiseiies. At Mory Scottisf,
and English troops inflicted tremen.
dous losses on the Germans.
Sunday Battle South Of Peronpe.
The fighting Sunday was trcmen.
dous. All day long heavy forces of
Germans endeavored to force a cross.
ing Of the sommc south Of Pcronne,
while further nIonR the line they con.
ccntrnted their efforts against Ba.
paume.
Repeatedly German engineers nj.
tempted to throw pontoon bridges
across the river. On the nearby
heights British field guns firing prnc.
ticnlly Mt point rnnge smashed every
effort On some occasions British In.
fantry. counter.Sttncking. dashed into
the water TO fight the Germans.
with tho object Of capturing Or
villers and Essigny. southwest Of 81.
Quentin. the Germans employed st
least six divisions. or 72.0O0 men Of