South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-21
TANKS
ARE WHOLE SHOW
Mechanical Monsters Drive
Germans Out OF Trench
eS in Terror.

BRITISH FRONT ~ FRANCE
AND BELGIUM. Aug. 21.-British
tanks scored another triumph i'm the
capture of important German posi-
lions yesterday near the Ypres-
POelcapelle road. north Of St Jul
len. il was a tank show almost from
start 20 finish, and the infantry in
this case played the part Of super
numeraries in support OF the lead
ing actors. while large mum bers of
the enemy troops added final
melodramatic touch by surrendeIing
abjectly or flying in terror as the
heavy tanks numbered on 10 the
stage and reached for their shoot
ing irons.
AS recorded in the official COM
munication the British captured
German defenses along a mile front
20 the depth Of five hundred yards.
Among the stronghOlds occupied
were the famous triangle, Hibau
and Cockcroft farms. the sites Of
exceedingly strong concrete and
steel machine gun redoubts that
menaced the infantry advance
AttAihN ONNi Aht Twp
II was dawn when the tanks lin
ed up and waited for the signal to
ego over the top" The British ar
tiUery observing no less of chivalry
10 the tanks than 10 the infantry in
the past poured a 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 Andersen's
conceptions into the gray morning
light that shrouded this battlefield
"in the Cockpit of Europe"
Behind them came the infantry
ready 10 do the cleaning up Of the
remaining after the tanks had fin
ished their part But there was
little for the infantry 20 do except
assemble and care for the prison
ers as the tanks progressed. There
was hard fighting at several posi-
tons such as the three redoubts
mentioned, but il was always brief
Flee Terror Stricken.
The tanks wheeled into position
and turned a heavy fire on the for
tifcations and the Germans were
killed or else they surrendered The
enemy casualties were heavy Great
numbers Of Germans were seen flee
ing Representation as the tanks ap-
peared i'm the distance. and a con-
siderable number threw down their
arms and surrendered without of
fering resistance
The tanks cleared the whole ter
ritory desired. and then trundled
back home. They suffered no dam
age and the casualties for the ac-
ton totalled only about 10. This has
been the most striking incident Of
the late lighting along this front.
There have been intense lombard
ments and the air forces Of both
have been unusually active. Last
night the air was full Of British
and German planes which bombed
their way into each others terri
tory amidst picturesque but awe
some flashes from breaking shrap-
mel and long white rays from
sedrchughts
The French engineers have en-
COuntered ConSl0eTa nle OlIuCulUeS
amid the marshes into which their
troops have been advancing on their
left but the work is proceeding with
marvellous rapidity.
Non commissioned German Off
GERS relate how they are hampered
by the decentralization of the young
err recruits with whom they are sup
piled They say they cannot rely. on
these youngsters. and similar com
plants are heard about the inef-
fciency Of the young German Off
/ GERS i'm the battles Of Flanders. The
decentralization of certain German
regiments AZ IanEemarcl1 and Poly
Ron wood last Thursday was COM
plete and this was due. according
20 captured on-commissioned Off
GERS TO the ureponderance of is year
old youth i'm the ranks
TIE effst and 202nd regiments Of
tho Teth division fed 20 the rear at
Ian-ewarck and many were killed
ly The British artillery as they ran
Eoth these regiments were ordered
to counter attack later hut could
not because they were So exhaust
ed and nerve racked