The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-08-23
HILL no. 10 CAPTURED.
Canadians Make Brilliant Charge
Crowned With Victory.

British Front in France and Bel
GUM. Aug. 15.-After the brilliant
advance this morning in which the
Canadians captured hill 20, and then
swept on northwest of Lens, the at
tackers were in close grips with the
Germans in the western part Of Lens
late today.
The attack began at 4.23 o'clock,
just as the first gray streahs of dawn
we're appearing. All night the Brit
ish big guns had been pouring a
steady stream of high explosive shells
into the German positions, great de-
donations overlapping one another
like the rapid crack of machine gun
fire and swelling into mighty vol
ume of thunder that shook the earth
and stunned the senses. Then. a
short time before the hour of often
ssive had arrived, the batteries alb
ruptly ceased, and a strange, almost
oppressive stiffness, fraught with the
portending cataclysm which must fol-
low, crept over the country which
until then had been an inferno of
death. 1t had been raining and gray
clouds still hung low over the trench
es where crouched the Canadian in
fantrymen waiting eagerly for the
arrival of the moment which would
summon them to attack.
., Terrible Spectacle.
Suddenly, ten minutes before the
time set for the attack, every British
gun within range broke out with a
hurricane of shelling and solid lines
of crimson lightning belched from the
German trenches as the explosives
,~oke about them. To this lurid pic
ture was added the unforgettable
spectacle of the burning oil which the
British threw on the enemy lines.
Great clouds of pinkish colored smoke
rolled across the country from the
flaming liquid and the murky sky
threw back myrid colors from the
conhagration below.
The moment Of attack arrived, and
as the British guns dropped their
protecting barrage in front of the
Canadian trenches, the clouds parted
and the yellow moon appeared. In
the light of this beacon the Canadians
leaped over the parapets and began
their methoSical advance behind their
barrage fire.
Without a Flaw.
The British Barrage was without a
flaw. Behind it the Canadians mount
ed Hill 20 and swept along the rest
of the line On the crest of the hill,
where so much blood had been spilled
before, heavy fighting might have
been expected, for the position was
well manned with machine guns. The
resistance here, however, was not
strong and was not until the dwell
ings in the outskirts of the suburbs
were reached that vigorous fighting
occurred. The ground over which
the infantry advanced was honey
combed with British holes and the
barbed wire defenses had been levell-
d so that they gave little trouble.
The first serious resistance from
the Germans was met at point
where the nemy was entrenched
stronglyin connecting cellars and here
sanguinary fighting occurred. The
place is a sample of other surburbs
about Lens.
Lens before the war had popula-
tion of 10000, but it is now mass
of ruins.
Following their usual tactics the
Germans had carried out systematic
destruction OF the houses and had
constructed strong underground de-
fenses. The whole city is undermln-
ed with. tunnels and dugouts which
have been reinforced with concrete.
It was in such difficult surround
inc as this that the Canadians are
battling today.
T., The capture Of Hill 70 is another
triumph for the British fighting or
ganization. Wounded Canadians re-
turning from the heart of the battle
today were loud in their praise OF the
perfection achieved in preparation
and the efficient protection afforded
by the artillery.
The extreme depth reachd In the
first stage was 1900 yeards and this
was achieved in ninety-three min
utes.
A considerable number of German
prisoners are beginning to arrive at
the British camp, and it is remarked
that many are mere lads.
Knew the Color All Right.