New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-04-08

my had some success and got a foot
ng IN some places but their attack
S Is a. whole was a failure. The en-
my casualties were very heavy be-
ause of the dominating positions
@ cid by the British artillery and ma
WY lline gunners.
Cessignol wood was found filed
l&8 itf enemy dead, and the ground in
'front.' of the ridges told an awful
Story. 1t seemed certain the Germans
EzviIl try again to capture the heights,
Tor they cannot sit where they are.
8 The British counter attacks on Ave
DIM who'd south of Mesnil yesterday
we're successful and the old positions
vere returned. The men who went
8karough this fight declare the Ger
2#1ans lost three killed to one for the
2ritish. 1t was a desperate fight. The
british stormed the wood after bat
Wing forward with machine guns and
&fifles' and then continued the battle
with hand grenades and bombs. The
#5ernnans chung desperately to their
#positions but were gradually forced to
#eaIl back, leaving many dead.
Prisoners captured by the British
&when Ayette was taken say the Ger
&of1cers casualties have been very
Sheavy since the beginning of the Of
&fensive The situation is so bad re-
BOARDING non-commissioped officers
&that the higher command has been
Epringing back into line those preYi-
gously combed out because Of age or
4 mounds.
A German airnaan taken prisoner
Nsaid the British had more and better
#airplanes than the Germans, and this
Saccounts for the British aviators do
Ping far more work over the enemy
lines than the Germans did. He said
Rthe Germans could not run the risk
Fof wasting machines in this sort of
warfare.
Cavalry In It's Element.
No finer chapter has been provided
for the story of the British defense
since the German offensive began
than that furnished by the cavalry.
Never since the war began had
horsenen been given the chance they
had. in this more or less open VAL
fare, and they <.ade the most of it.
yrhev have been here, there and
everywhere filing the gaps. strength
ening the lines and covering the re-
tirement of infantry Their work has
been brilliant and they thoroughly
enjoyed every minute Of it, despite
the gruelling enga gements.
The correspondent saw long lines
of cavalry on the road Yesterday.
rThev we're battle worn and showed
the marks of hard fighting More
than one trooper led 4. rlderlesa
horse But the mems heads were up
and. their lances described defiant cir
,,les. while the horses cavortcd as
though they, too, were ready for
more trouble.
/ In the first three days of the drive
4fe cavalry fought mostly on foot
and did valuable work. It was dis
amounted cavalry that held the Ollezy-
Ham line on March % while the in
Pantry withdrew There was terrific
Sighting here. one party of dragons
were cut off all night but they cut
ptheir way Through.
b, On the 23rd. the cavalry came into
ats own for the horses We're brought
forward and the troopers began n
series of spectacular teats.
When Noyon was first threatened,
cavalry was sent to hold the line Of
the Disc west of the town, The Bpit
4Fh infantry was forced to fall back
on tho 26th and the cavalry was
pulled back also with the intention
of occupying the ridge near Porqer-
scourt near Noyon. The Germans also
were after this hill
Race With Enemy Infantry.
race developed between The horse
men and the enemy infantry across
the rolling ground. The Germans
reached the northern, part of the
wood but the cavalry arrived on tbs
other side at about the same time and
rushed through the forest against the
Germans.
An intense battle at close quarters
ensued and the cavalry was doing
great execution when the order came