The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-15
Supposed Impregnable Hill 20
Falls i'm Brilliant Thrust.
Victory Ranks Among Most
Notable of Entire War.
LENS NOW A DEATH TRAP
Surrounded on Three Sides,
Germans Must Evacuate City.
Gain Every Objective on Loco
Yard Front, a Mile Deep.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP sIMMs.

With the British Arnmes in the
Field, Aug. 15.-Positions over a 1. 500
yard front, and to a depth of nearly
a mile were stormed and captured by
the Canadians early today in a new
Lens.
AS a result of the objects attained
by today's attack, the famous coal city
is now nothing more than a death
trap for the Germans. If they con-
tinue to hold it, their pride will cost
them dearly in lives and blood.
Hill 20 was captured in the first
rush of the Canadians. This strong
hold was considered impregnable by
the Germans and the capture of it to-
day ranks as one of the most brilliant
achievements of the entire war on the
west front. In addition, Rosewood,
Cite St. Laurent, Cite St. Emile part
of Cite Elizabeth and a portion of
Hugo wood were quickly taken. A
number of other important mining
centers and positions about Lens were
next captured. 1t was during a dawn
more beautiful than painters dream
that Field Marshal Haig struck again
| at the German lines. This time the
| blow fell against the approaches of
the coal city, instead of n Flanders.
Gained Every Objective.
/
force of the irresistible push. The OBJ
jectives fixed for the day were taken
! in the first rush, and then came the
work of consolidating positions Sew
| eral hundred prisoners had been taken
up to an early hour today and more
| were pouring back from he fighting
zone.
! The attack which swept the Canad-
ians forward until they held the las
positions dominating the approaches
to Lens was a typical British push
There was the usual hush before
the battle After the night of artil
lery enga gements, a death like silence
fell. Then came the drum fire, the
roar of guns, the screening of shell:
and the flare of rockets behind the
German lines in rapid signaling.
The sun was just rising, streakins
the sky with a wonderous tint. Thu
British barrage was under way. 4
curtain of steel was falling between
the Canadian trenches and the enemy
Germans Fire Distress Rockets.
Then the Canadians went over theil
parapets They followed their cur
tain of steel and flame across the opeI
ground.
German rockets. carrying their IS
! o. s." signals. began bursting NOR,
riotously. But from the first every
thing went well with the British. Thei
bombing, their bayoneting and othe
WORK compete, Iney looked dow
upon Lens, complete masters of it
gateWays.
Cite st. Laurent. mentioned b,
Simms as captured by the Canadians
is only about a mile north of the mali
section of Lens, between the coal cit,
and Loos. Other points captured b.
the Canadians are in this same region
The victorious assault of the Cana
dams today brings the fall of Len
appreciably nearer. For the past weel
the Canadians have been closing in OF
Lens yard by yard. The city is nov
surrounded by the British on thre
sides. They were within striking dis
tance of the main part of the tow
before today's attack was made.
Predict Evacuation Soon
The dispatch from William Phil,
| Simms at the front, stating that TIL
CONTINUED on Page TwoJ