Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 20, 1997, Winnipeg, Manitoba Manitoban mop up at Arleaux 77iis is the sixth in a series of historic free press front pages. On april 29,1917, a battalion of Manitoba soldiers prepared for Battle. Known As the a a toppers up a these men had a particularly difficult task that Day clean out the enemy trenches As Canadian and British troops advanced towards Arleaux oppy. But As the Manitoba free press reported they had no idea just How difficult that Job would be. The Battle of Arleaux oppy occurred just two weeks after Canadian soldiers had captured Vimy Ridge a Battle that marked the first time Canadian forces fought As a unit in a major conflict. Morale was High in part because of the great Victory at Vimy. But soldiers also knew the Ridge was taken at great Cost 10,602 casualties including 3,598 dead. A i watched the tremendous spectacle of the last fierce burst of fire from hundreds of guns a wrote the Only morning newspaper n Manitoba. Manitoba weather forecast fair higher temper Ato re. Temperature yesterday to 7 . A maximum. 4s.o. Minimum. 34.2. Vol Winnipeg monday april 30,1917. Twenty rages no. Ivy captured by canadians Huish Start terrific drive toward Douai Field system in front of mile j Lakin canadians took part in 1 thrilling Battle ejected to heavy counter attacks Bat positions held prisoners exceed thousand Battle rages Over three mile stretch French continue to harass germans Manitoba battalion entangled in uncut wire during Advance on Arleaux and suffered considerably. Line ii. Irha Ai a �.�,a april a Papfi to i if hot Xiii my Law Hrisi Iii a i t in uhf to the it Ai the Faamuli a a a. A t r. I mile a i pall 11 la a to Dirp. Or. A i i i has a. A British arb ii a Nan my it it i it it right i a ii in i ii i a \ ill a in. In i in in the i 11 i Rahee ran a ii.,ii. \ a i v bidge fell in to Arleaux to i i cd get Quot i \ tiny ii ii. In a Quot ii u i the opt a tile Village. Ger i. A Jumior failed to thai Aud i. Hand to hand -�htiii2 lie Atla to ing forces Tri drive in i Tho e a i Are of Arleaux widens a a a snide a in tip British Lieut Yana aia Headquarters in franc april 29. The bite taken out by the canadians this morning was about 2,Noo Yards in length with a penetration of the enemy s line at the deepest Point of 1.800 Yards. From a Ridge Over Farb is whence a View could vie obtained of the Arleaux oppy slope up which the Canadian and British Advance was made yesterday i watched the tremendous spectacle of the last fierce burst of fire from hundreds of guns. It was Vimy Ridge Over again in thai respect. The infantry went Forward in the. Light of Dawn and trom the Ridge their Progress could be followed Only by the lilting of the barrage time to time As tire enemy Gate want. The Teutons were a Akon by Surprise the fit it prisoners said. And while expecting . Had nut expected an assault so soon. A few of the higher officers Ware in their dug outs or front trenches when our movement was launched. For a time the germans gave evidence of a Lack of direction or control. However they speedily rallied and put tip a sift it fight from the cellars of Arleaux and had to he driven out with bayonets and bombs. Manitoba battalion caught in wire. To a toppers up a As the men who clean out the enemy trom his dug outs Are called had a tug task on the right of the line. A Manitoba battalion was i id up tor a Tim by urn it wire with skill buy placed machine guns behind ii and suffered considerably be torn it could Cut its Way through and reach its objective. By seven of clock however. Arleaux had been captured be storm and the triumphant Manitoban had join a their comrades on the rising land East of the town where our troops had Dtta in to resist possible counter attacks. The enemy s artillery which earlier in the action had been firing spasmodically on Vuiller Val and far bus Wood was strongly reinforced later yesterday morning. To meet it As Well As to prevent German concentration our heavy artillery threw an effective fire into the enemy a new line which includes the Villace of Fresnoy to the East of Arleaux. Here the germans Are Only about nine Miles from Douai. A feature of the action wats a procession of our Stretcher cases across the open Plain borne by German prisoners. They came across the tire swept zone carrying either our wounded. Who. Even when badly Tut. Enjoyed the Triumph of being thus served by the Corm it. Or their of n seriously wounded. Number of prisoners taken the number of prisoners passed unfounded through our lines yesterday afternoon was about 360. Over one Hundred wounded enemies were being cared for by our surgeons. These figures Are liable to be increased. Some of the prisoners Are of the ratio Ertan battalion and Only came to the Tine on Friday night. Their officers Wear Blue armlets with the word a a Gibraltar on them in commemoration of the part they played in defence of the flock when Britain s King wats also King it Hanover. The capture of Arleaux has added to the feeling of Confidence on the part of our troops that with artillery support such As they have had in recent actions they a belter fighting men than Fritz and can move him on steadily. Bitter fighting of British front. Bondon. April 29.�? bitter fighting continued throughout last night and today on the front of the British offensive. Neuter s correspondent at the British Headquarters telegraphs that the germans apparently have. A Good idea of the principal Points against which the British Effort is directed and which must be carried before it will be possible for the British to go ahead again. The germans Are throwing in fresh troops to defend these positions a rapidly As it is possible to hurry them up. Quot the contour of the scarce Valley is particularly favourable to the establishment of a perfect nest of machine gun positions which Are extremely difficult to detect and therefore Are very hard to Deal with by artillery fire but they ate gradually being subdued. A just As in the latest pitched Battle the hottest fighting centred around Conchy now Roux is the scene of the severest fighting a the correspondent continues. A a the germans appreciate the tactical value of Roux and Are sacrificing troops in droves in the Effort to keep the British out but the concentration of big British guns is making the germans pay a Mavy Price for their opposition. Terrific Battle around Roux. Quot All night Long the Battle crashed and thundered around Roux and the High Sun this perfect Sabbath morning must be looking Down upon a veritable German holocaust Between the chemical works and mount pleasant Wood. A a to the northward we Are Well established in Arleaux Village and along the line of Advance running from the Southeast of Arleaux Wood to about 1,200 Yards West of Asheville. Our hosts w in pushed Forward up the Western slope of Greenland Hill and now command the Cross toads northward of its Summit. A a Between oppy and Gavrella the struggle is proceeding with a degree of intensity which renders it impossible to fists and Hie Butts put by part by Battie Cerous Fig if lot fiercely i thu Ever to resist advanced War to the death i Aion Voo Mbom a Bax. Hindenburg s orders to hold of at All costs carried oath lieu marshal visits Frost British started with Dawn Progress made everywhere Dost covers battlefields c0n6ress backs up Wilson s plan of conscription passes Bill to raise i Anay by selective draft by huge majorities provisions Call for armed Force of 1,900,000 mean to increase pay of soldiers Iau male do Zed Between ales of several of the enemy were killed we look a few prisoner1. A flu the a r fighting yesterday two German air planes were brought Down one other was driven Down oui of control. Three of our machines Are 11 break up counter . The germans last night made a deter mined Effort to capture positions gained by the British near a Loup in go Helve in yesterday it drive. The War Oft ice announces that the attach Mui German Cabinet faces problem directly opposite demands of Vai Ivos desire. Germany a Industrial and a r no i ural future must be so Oid ezed that she will be in a position to withstand any future . We must have the Coal Fields of Longiv and brie. We must have fresh territories for emigration in the East. We Mutt not return any land we have conquered. A a already we Nave foolishly bestowed a kingdom upon Poland with but Germany s right there Allied statesmen Pat homage to Washington mount Vernon a. April 29.�?the flags of great Britain France and the United $tp.tes, floated together today Over the Tomb of George Washington. While beneath bom an Emi bit Isle Headquarters Iii France. April 28 via London april 29.�? from u staff correspondent of the a. Pm there was More desperate fighting along the British front today and tie German.0, evidently spurred �?��?~1 by the declarations from Fric old marshal von Hindenburg that thee must hold their present positions at All costs Are making a resistance More stubborn than any heretofore encountered. At various Points captured in the first Onward Rush by the British the German have been ordered into counter attacks with reckless disregard for loss of Fife. The Battle was still Iii Progress late today and it is possible near Only to see at one time no less than five Gray Waves of germans facing the blinding British fire in an attempt to retake the lost positions. Heavy shells broke upon them in a great explosive torrent and where each shall burst great gaps Ware Cut in the Gen. Petain hero of Verdun Paris. April 29.�?Gen. Petain. W o commanded the French army defending Verdun during the or. Ca stages of the Battle in Fetnia v an March. 191u. Is to be appointed c he of staff at the ministry of War. The Cabinet decided this Thia afternoon. The Cabinet meeting was presided Over by president Poincare and was held after a session of the War committee. After a general discussion it was determined to restore the Post of chief of staff at the ministry of War and confide the Post to Gen. Petain. Telephone Striae Doe to Morrow operators Are dissatisfied with reply of Conan Mui to de junk far More pay / 21 lid 40 years liable to service main provisions of army Sib As passed by Congress yesterday the army draft Bill s a n it to vision Call for a total armed Foit of v90q,-000 men. An army of 287.000. A National guard of 625.000. Filling the gaos in the militia by Volunteer and forced enlistment. In addition the raising of 1.000.000 in two groups of 500. Too Tach by selectee constr o to service of Allma e citizen Between theg of 21 and 40 year Ine Lueve. Exemption Froat very tee of Tho belonging to religious or Mise ton whose Creed oppose War Energy Mew of recon and ;