South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-09-28

United StatesD
International News Service:
AT THE BRITISH FRONT IN
FRANCE, Sept. 2S.-W1th a lull
prevailing after the two days battle
which gained five villages, and after
5000 prisoners were taken, the cor
respondent has CLEANED from partici-
pants many stories, not only of cour-
age and impulse, but of humor and
paradox possible only in snch a COM
plicated and remorseless warfare as
that of the grand offensive.
The most wonderful of all perhaps
was that of one of the tanks" or
new armored motor cars, which
started for Berlin on its own initia-
tive. This monster land ship, amb-
ling and numbering along did not
Y ait for the infantry after-the taking
! of Guedecourt, but plodded over
shell holes and across lots looking
for food like some prehistoric
lizard. Sooner OF later it was bound
to find another German trench and
engage the occupants with its ma
chine guns. In this it succeeded, but
it ran out of gasoline.
Germans Seek Revenge.
When the Germans found this
strange creature, with its impen-
etrab steel hide, stalled, curiosity
and a desire for revenge was a flip
to their courage They went after it
with the stalking avidity of the pre-
historic man going after a wounded
mammoth that had its bulk fast in
one Of the alleys OF Cave Dwellers'
row. while they tried 10 avoid the
thrusts of its deadly tusks.
No such game was ever seen be
fore on this western front. which is
used 10 all kinds Of bizarre lighting.
According TO the account vera
ciously given by officers, while the
tank" machine guns were blazing
right and left and taking heavy toll
of life, some Germans managed to
! creep along their trenches under the
fore and hind legs of this crushing
beast and then they swarmed over
it looking for an opening through
| which they might strike at its vitals.
They fired their rifles into its joints
and bombed il all over. but 10 no
more avail than burglars trying TO
! Jimmy their way into the turret Of a
| battleship. All the while its machine
guns were kept busy at all the hu-
man targets in reach. Its crew, all
chosen daredevils, concluded TO stick
until they were starved out or the
| Germans found the proper can
| opener to get them out Finally
British infantrymen, seeing the
/ tanks" distress, did not wait on
any generals orders to remain at
, their objective which was already
gianed. They were out to save that
impounded comrade. With a cheer
] the British rushed the Germans and
/ overwhelmed them. When the crew
! OF the tank" heard laughing and
shouting in English they opened the
| door and called out:
Needed Some Juice
I'VE are all right if you will only
| get US some Juice Let the old girl
have a gUzzle Of her proper drink
and we can take the road again"
So the English formed line in
front Of the tank. determined 10 de-
fend her % the last man. while
runner was hurried back for a can
I Of gasoline, which arrived safely
The beast having taken a swallow.
/ ambled back TO the reserves amidst
/ more cheers He left behind $50
1 dead Germans.
Another tank" which did well in
this fight assisted in taking ThiepvaL
I There was once a chateau in Thiep-
+ val It's cellar is still there. rooted
I over by the remains OF brick. stone
and mortar in thick. shell-pum-
melled layers, which protected it
+ from penetration by even nine and
12-inch high explosives.
The Germans Waited.
Here the Germans waited. smok-
ing their mild cigars and drinking
soda water brought up through
shell-prOof underground tunnels
while the ruins over their heads
were being beIabored by British ar
tillery. They had the sense Of Sc
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