The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-08-18
! lk FleHlINe klAuexS.
CANADIANS. TAKE I'LL 20,
a NORTHWEST OF LENS.
HAtg's Men Establish Themselves In
Outskirts Of Coal Center, Where
Ferce Fight RaScs.


this morning In which the Canadians
captured Hin 20 and then swept on
northwest Of Lens. the attackers were
I'm close grips with the Germans in
the western part of Lens late today.
The attack began at 4;25 o'clock just
an the hrst gray streaks of dawn were
appearing. All night the British big
gums had been pouring a steady stream
of hiGh explosive shells into the Ger
man positions. great detonations over
lapping one another, like the rapid
crack Of machine gun fire and swell
ing into q mighty volume of thunder
that shook the earth and stunned the
senses. A short time before the
hour OF the offensive had arrived the
batteries abruptly ceased and a
strange. almost oppressive stiffness.
frausht with the portending cataclysm
which must follow. crept over the
country which until then had been an
inferno of death. 1t had been raining
and gray clouds stili hung low over
the trenches where crouched the Ca
madam infantrymen waiting eagerly
for the arrival of the moment which
would summon them, to attack.
Suddenly. ten minutes before tho
time set for the attack. every British
gun within range broke out with
hurricane Of shelliny and solid lines
OF crimson lightning bclchcd from
the German trenches as the explo
sives broke over them. To this lurid
picture was added the unforgettablc
spectacle OF the burning oil which the
British threw on the enemy lines
Great clouds of pinkish coloroc
smoke rolled across the country from
the flaming liquid and the murky
, sky threw back myriad colors from
the connsgration below.
Tho moment of attack arrived and
as the British guns dropped their
protecting barrage in front of tn,
Canadian trenches. the clouds parted
and the yellow crescent moon ap-
psared. Under the light of this bca
con the Canadians leaped over the
parapets and began their methodical
advance behind their barrage fire.
The Britsh barrage was without
naw. Behind II the Canadians mount
cd Nm 20 and swept along the res
OF the line. On the crest of the hi,l
where so much blood had been spill
ed before. heavy lighting might hay
been expected. for the position wa,
well manned with machine guns. TIL
resistance here. however. was no
strong and II was not until the dwell.
ings I'm the outskirts of the suburb
were reached that vigorous fghtlnr
occurred. The ground over which
the infantry advanced was honey
eombed with British shell holes anC
the ba~bed wire defenses had beer
icveled 80 that they gave little trou-
BILE.
The first serious resistance from
the Germans was met at poin,
where the enemy was entrenchcd
strongly In connected cellars and hcrf
saneuinary fighting occurred. The
place In a sample Of other suburbs
about Lens.
Lens before the war had n popula-
Lon OF $4,000. but II is now a mass
OF ruins.
Following their usual tactics th
Germans had carried out systemat!
construction of strong underground do
lenses The whole city Is undermine.
with tunnels and dugouts which hayS
been reinforced with concrete.
IL was I'm such difficult surroundin~
an this That the Canadians were bat
ting today.
The enect OF tho British prelimi,
nary bornbardment was most demora,
King to the enemy Prisoners alread,
taken were in n dazed state as the
'oSuit VI the terrific bombardmcnt
they had undergone and 1t is no,
strange. perhaps. that when the Brit
ish began their barragc fire this morn
ing many Germans were seen to fee
TO the rear.
The capture of Hnl 20 is another
triumph for the British fighting or
ganization. Wounded Canadians rc-
turning from the heart OF the battle
today were loud In their praise OF tn
perfection achieved In preparation and
the efficient protection afforded by the
artillery.
The extreme depth reached I'm the
hrst stage was $500 yards and this
was achieved In 80 minutes.