Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 May 1917 — BRITISH TAKE TOWN [ARTICLE]

BRITISH TAKE TOWN

GEN. HAIG’S TROOPS CAPTURE BULLECOURT. Germans Driven From Village After Hard Fight—Paris Believes Further Retirement Is Near. London, Muy 18. —The British troops completed the capture of the village of Bulleeourt, according to the announcement from the war office, issued tonight. Fighting continued throughout the day. The official report issued this morning said the British had reached the western edge of the town. The battle for possession of Bullecourt has been going on with only brief interruptions for two full weeks, having been commenced on May 3. The British, and French have forced the Germans to use. virtually all the fresh reserves which they had at the beginning of the battle of Arras, Maj. Gen. F. B. Maurice, chief director of military operations at the war office said. “Our plan,'’ continued General Maurice, “is to wear the Germans down. We realize that there is going to be no big advance without the accomplishment of this. You need not expect sensational pushes into enemy territory at present; It. will be slow hammer-and-tongs fighting, such as we have been conducting in the battle of Arras. “Lately we have been forcing the Germans to assume the offensive. This is just what we want, for the Germans are compelled to throw men against us under unfevorable circumstances. The results are disastrous to them, as their losses are tremendous.” Paris, May 18. —The desperate German counter-offensive that has been going on since Tuesday in the region of Laffaux is considered in competent quarters here as intended to mask a further retirement of the German first line on other parts of the front. Paris, May 18.—Tremendous efforts were made by the Qermans to press back the French lines south of Laon, but all failed. Six German assaults were repulsed with heavy loss of life, the war office announced.