The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-14
BRITISH CLINCINC
DESPERATELYTO
new POSITIONS
Rush Up Reserves to All Three
Points Taken.
Surprised Germans Who Were
Preparing Breakfast.
THEN BRITONS DEYOUR IT
1000 Prisoners Taken at Small
Cost to English.
Capture Intricate Underground
Defense on the Ancre.
Rush Up Reserves to All Three
Points Taken.
Surprised Germans Who Were
Preparing Breakfast.
THEN BRITONS DEVOUR IT
1000 Prisoners Taken at Small
Cost to English.
Capture Intricate Underground
Defense ON the Ancre.

London. Nov. 1.-THE British on
the Ancre today continued their sue
cessfuI smash against the heavily for
titled German lines The war office
reported new progress at Beaucourt-
Sur-Ancre where four thousand Ger
mans were taken prisoners
Bitter fighting was going on IN the
outskirts of the town at noon
The announcement, which told OF
the new advance at Beaucourt-Sur-
Ancre, said the storming of Beau
nont-HameI villages had been COM
pletely successful.
Yesterdays advance, including 10
days consolidation, was ON front %
more than five miles and 10 a uePsn
al some points of more than Z,OVo
Yards Each attack was preceded by
a curtain fire which German prison.
trs say is the most terrible OF any
barrage hail of hetal that mas peeh
faced on any front.
New Drive on serre.
Fragmentary press reports reat en-
ing here today told of a spread or the
fighting several miles northWard.
which led to belief that General Hals
forces have started a drive on SER
ABOUT one mile north OF Beaurnoht anu =
a 'scant mile and a half northwest OF
M.ramount.
London. Nov. 1.-THE battle of
Ancre brook continued today flgnt-
ing at the northern edges OF Beau
mont and Hamel on the north oai. IN
rally their forcas is proceeding with
an Intensity that increases hourly, ac-
cording to unofficial reports reaching
here from the front nj.
on the south bank, about st. Pierre
Dfvion, half mile north of Thiepoval,
the Germans already have started
counter attacking and the fighting
there is bitter.
The British have rushed up reserves
at all three points taken in the light
ming stroke that began under cover
OF the lowhanging mists early yester-
day, and continued in this sector with
a surprisingly small show of resistance
by the Germans. The reserves are
now at work consolidating the gains
that were made where the Germans
dug and cemented themselves into
what heretofore has been regarded as
one of the most inpregnable portions
of their western lines.
Capture Much Booty.
Military experts here expected the
greatest show of resistance about
Beaumont-Hamel. since any further
advance by British forces there will
seriously threaten Miraumont less
than one mile east directly on the road
to coveted Bapaume.
By today the number of prisoners
taken had increased well above 1000.
More are continually being hurried
hack to the British lines. Much booty
was also found in the amazingly intri-
cate dugout defenses.
Completely Surprised.
With the British Armies in France,
Nov 10, via London, Nov. 1.-THE
Germans apparently were completely
surprised by this mornings attack in
the valley of the Ancre. An evidence
of this was found in the fact that the
garrison of the trenches around Beau
n1ant-Hamel were preparing for
breakfast at the very moment the
British infantry stormed the position.
The British are practically clearing
the underground galleries, and round
ing up 700 prisoners. proceeded to eat
their prisoners breakfast, telling the
captives that they would be fed when
they arrived within the British lines.
A total of nearly 1000 prisoners
has so far been sent to the cages,
including q regfmentai commander
who was captured in a dugout with a
major, an adjutant and number of
other officers. The majority of the
prisoners are Silesians, and according
to the British officers, very inferior
fighting material. The German high
er command depended apparently on
the supposedly impregnable character
OF the front line and the strongly for
tilted villages rather than on the
Stamina of the troops.
Withdrew Best Fighters
The British officers believe that the
Germans withdrew their best men Cor