The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1918-04-04
HUNS PAY DEARLY
FOR EVERY GAIN
DETAILS OF FIRST WEEK OF THE
GREAT BATTLE TELL OF
BRITISH HERoISM.
OVERWHELMED BY NUMBERS
FierceIy contesting Each Position,
Hais's Men Fell Back In Good Order,
Moving Down the Advancing Foe
and Often counter-Attacking.

moving Down the Advancing Foe
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 pessimism.
The German losses have been ter
rife, probably 100000 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:
1t is known that at least 100000
Germans were engaged on the whole
front of attack. In the Somme area
not less than so army divisions were
Identified. The British line suffered
its most severe buffeting I'm this
stretch, but was firm everywhere.
The Germans believed that a loss
of 100000 would be a cheap price for
success in the west. but with a loss
already of 100000 there is no pros
pect of their attaining the victory they
seek.
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.
The 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 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 nOrthwarC
from Fontainelles and Croiselles anC
westward from Cherissy. They drove
In mass formation, wave after wave
toward the heights between Henin-sur
Cojeul to Henin hill.
Two hours of drum fire, in which
gas and high-explosive shells wer,
mingled, preceded the infantry attack
From eight o'clock in the morning un
til noon continuous waves of gray-claC
troops stormed the heights.
British machine guns posted on tn,
ridge swept down line after line O
Germans. BY three o'clock in the aft
elnOon the TeWons had succeeded 1:
pressing past Henin hill on both side
and threatened to cut off the machin,
gunners posted on the crests. No
until then did the latter retire and re
join the main British force.
Similar fighting was going on at tn
same time on the right wing. Tremen
dOus pressure was brought to bea
around st. Leger, Vaulx and vrau
court. 1t lasted all day.
At times under the German blow
the British line sagged heavily, but q
no point did it give way.
Desperate Defense Of VauIx.
A bitter battle was fought for DOS
session Of VaulX, but British machin
gunners posted in the ruins of tn
village held the Germans at bay. .
ruined factory served as fortres
despite the Smelling to which 1t wa
subjected.
Not until late in the afternoon wa
it impossible for the British to hol
the town longer. Even then the RI
treat only went for thousand yard.
The British rear guard fought ever
step of the way, and, returning to tn
main body, counter-attack wa
launched against the Germans in 20!
session of Vaulx and the village wa
regained.
The fighting continued all nigh
Finally Vaulx had to be abandone
before heavy night attacks, but onl
because German forces had pushe
past further up the line and wer
driving to the attack of Mory.
Another bitter struggle was fougl
around Croiselles. At Mory Scottis
and English troops inflicted tremel
dous losses on the Germans.
Sunday Battle South Of Peronne.
The fighting Sunday was tremel
dous. All day long heavy forces {
Germans endeavored to force a eros
ing of the Somme south of Peronn
while further along the line they col
centrated their efforts against Bl
paume.
Repeatedly German engineers a
tempted to throw pontoon bridge