Arizona republican., 1917-08-21
BRITISH TANKS
 SCORE ONCE MORE
 AGAINST GERMANS
Republican A. p. Leased Wire1


 BRITISH FRONT IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM, Aug 20.-(By the Asso- ciated Press)-British tanks scored another triumph in the capture of i'm portant German positions yesterday morning in the neighborhood of the Ypres- -Poelcapelle road, north of St Julien. It was a tank show almost from start to finish and the infantry in this case played the part of super numerarieS in support Of the ieadlhg actors, while large numbers of the en- emy troops added final melodramatlc touch by surrendering abjectly or flee ing in terror as the heavy leads lum- bered on the stage and reached for their shooting irons
 As recorded in the official communl- cation the British captured German de- lenses along a mile front to depth or 800 yards. Among the strongnolds oc- cupied were the Famour Triangle, Hi bau and Cockraft farms, the sites of exceedingly strong concrete and steel machine gun redoubts that menaced the infantry advance.
 It was dawn when the tanks lined up and waited for the signal to '"go over the top" The British artillery, observ- ing no less of chivalry to the tanks than to the infantry in the past. poured il preliminary stream of shells into the German lines, then dropped a barrage ahead of the iron monitors, which started forward, looking for all the world like great dragons that had rolled out from one of Hans Andersens con- captions into the gray morning heht that shrouded this battlefield Tn the cockpit of Europe"
 Behind them came the infantry, ready to do the cleaning up of the remaining enemy after the tanks had flnisheo their part. But there was little for the infantry to do except assemble and care for the prisoners as the tanks pro- gressed There was hard fighting at several positions, such as the three re- doubts mentioned, but it was always brief.
 The tanks wheeled into position and turned a heavy fire on the fortifica- lions and the Germans were killed or else they surrendered. The enemy cas- ualties were heavy Great numbers or Germans were seen fleeing terror stricken as the tanks appeared in the distance and a considerable number threw down their arms and surrendered without offering resistance.
 The tanks cleared the whole terri tory desired and then trundled back home. They suffered no damage and
  fifteen. This has been the most strik- ing incident of the latest fighting along this front
 There have been intense artillery bombardments and the air services or both sides have been unusually active Last night the air was full Of Brltlsh and German planes, which pomped their way into each others territory amidst picturesque but swesome flashes from breaking shrapnei and long white rays from searchllghts.
 The French engineers have encoun- tered considerable difficulties amid the marshes into which their troops have advanced on their left, but the Worh IS proceeding at marvellous rapidity.
 Tn to date. the French have cap- tured about 25 German guns since this offensive began on July 3l and the ma chine guns taken are innumeraole Some of the captured redoubts were found to be veritablc nests or macnlne guns. One field gun which a German artilleryman was about to blow up was taken near Les Lilas, the gunner being shot just as he was placing the eX- plosive.
 The examination of German prison CTS taken by the British continues ana ont of 94O questioned, only 25 per cent were lO DtlOliS lO Iiic Nom commissioned German officers re- late how they are hampered by the de moraliZation of the younger recrults with whom they are supplied. They say they cannot rely on these young . sters. and similar complaints are heard about the inefficiency of the young German officers in the battle or tlan- ders. The demoralizat1on of certaln German regiments at Langemarck ana Polygon wood last Thursday was com plete and this was due. according 10 captured non commissioned officers, 10 the preponderance of IS year old youths in the ranks
 The 261st nd 202nd regiments Of the 79th division fled to the rear at Lange- narck and many were killed by the British artillery as they ran Both these regiments were ordered to coun- fer attack later. but could not because they were so exhausted and nerve racked