Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-09-26
Associated Press Cores.
pondent VividIy Describes
Allied Advance.
GREAT DAY FOR
ANGLO-FRENCH ARMY
Views Battle From Heights and in
Midst Of Roaring Cannon--Germans
Driven From Last Stroneholds in
Front Of comhIes and Compelled to
Fight in Open Remnant Of Defend
srs Facing determination or Capture

British Front in France, Sept. 20
This has been another great day for
the Anglo French forces on the
Somme. AS a spectacle for the OBJ
server it was the most splendid OF all
the attacks made. by the allied forces
since the commencement Of the pres
ent offensive.
What either army was trying TO do
or how they were doing it. in the play
Of the blue front French legions and
the kahki brlgades of Britain, was
comprehensive to the eye in the glor-
ious autumn sunlight
The British have taken half OF Nor
val, all Of Lesboenuf, and have ad-
vanced their line on front OF s,ooo
yards for an average depth OF l,VVV
yards; the French have stormed Kan
court and have pushed their line to the
outskirts Of the little village OF Fregi-
court, mile east and a little north 81
Combles The German stronghold OF
Combles is virtually isolated.
Wall of Big Guns.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press went forward yesterday over the
ridge in the Devils wood and Ginchy
region. which the British had fought
for over two months to gain. He
walked for two miles thru an area
which reverberated to the blasts of the
great guns picking his way between
the bursts OF flame from the crashing
batteries and moving around the rows
OF cannon as one who seeks a ford In
q stream. On the other side Of the
ridge he saw guns where he had never
seen them before. They were close up
to the British infantry, who listened
to their thunderous chorus as they
prepared for the charge in today's at
tack.
THE usual artillery preparation
said an artillery official.
The correspondent decided in re-
turning. he would not pass thru .hat
wilderness Of guns of all size and cal
siber while he had any hearing left.
Every one was firing att; top sneed He
chose a gallery which took him past
many batteries which for two miles
were pouring out their thunderous gun
fire. 8
infantry Attacks.
From the ruins Of a German trencA
where the battle panorama stretched
before him. the correspondent had a
near view Of the French gunners who
were feeding the guns as grain is fed
to q threshing machine.
Shortly after noon was the time
chosen for the infantry to rush for
ward. The ridges In front and on
either hand were fiecked with racing
sparks Of fame. Within an hour at
least $4,000 shells must have been fired
within sight of the correspondent Far
to the south was Mont st. Quentin,
two miles from Peronne. and COM
imandng that town. which the allied
commanders say will fall like ripe
plum when the time comes. The hill
lay hazy above the green foliage Of
the valley. and vast bursts of black
smoke from shells Of enormous cali
Der.
Like Scoring Game.
At the appointed time the waves Of
infantry surged forward to attack.
Then the tremendous fire Of the Ger
man guns swelled to its utmost vol
ume. The attacking infantry vanished
In that grim pail, while high overhead
scores Of sausage balloons and hum
dreds Of aeroplanes. their wings gleam-
ing like silver in the sunlight strove
vainly to see what was passing be-
meath them. Then across the dead
fields arose signal from Morval,
which told that the British infantry
had reached another goal and that an
other village was taken. A man at a
telephone In a nearby signal station
called out the capture of the different
strong points with the enthusiasm of
one who scored a hotly contested
game.
Must Fiaht in Open.
Presently the British wounded be-
gan to straggle back, and their bearing
as they moved along beside their pri-
soners was another criterion by which
the correspondent knew how the day
had gone without making inquiries nf
the staff. The German machine guns
had stopped them for awhile at some
points. but every point was taken. The
British wounded said that Of cours
they got there as they usually did
They said It was becoming an even
fight as the Germans had no more pre :
pared lines but the fighting now was
In the open. 4