The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1917-08-01
GERMAN LINE TN FLANDERS
SHATTERED BY TERRIFIC
DRIVE OF ALLIED TROOPS
More Than $500 Prisoners Are Taken by the Aies-Ten
Towns Captured and British Penetrate Positions
Between Bresingle and Warneton-Attack on a
Twenty-Mile FrOnt-Casualties of Entente Allies
Have Been Surprisingly Light

Brieish Front in France and Bel
GUM, July 31.-(By the Associated
ess).-An epoch making offensive,
launched by the British and French
against the German lines between the
river Lys and Boesinghe at daybreak
has, with few exceptions, accomplish
ed all that had been planned for the
first day of this battle, which, in its
early stages, gives promise Of being
the greatest conflict of the war.
Roughly speaking, the British pene-
trated positions held by Crown Prince
Ruprecht Of Bavaria between Boe-
singhe and Warne ton, and at the
time of the filing of this dispatch were
in possession of the first three lines
of the German trenches at most points
| throughout this front
Reports received from the French
troops, which are attacking over diff
ferent territory between Dixmude and
a point near Boesinghe, say that they
have forced their way across this
marsh and partly inundated
region and captured the first two lines
of German trenches.
Casualties Light.
The casualties of the Entente AL
lies have been surprisingly light and
the morale of the men continues at
the highest pitch. The contact be-
tween the British and French armies
have been constant and excellent.
Late today it was reported that the
Germans had begun heavy counter
attack at the point where the Entente
Allied forces join.
The German front line trenches,
which had been torn to pieces by the
preliminary bombardment offered lit
| tie resistance, but once the Allied
forces had penetrated beyond them
they met with fierce resistance at
many points. Directly east of lille
beke and again little to the north
the British were temporarily held up
by a heavy machine gun fire, but
only temporarily, for the troops
charged through the rain of lead and
forced the Germans from their posi-
tions in hand-to-hand fighting.
Charged With Bayonets.
Again at a redoubt which was
strongly held in the German line and
defended by concrete Notifications,
the British were brought to stand
by machine gun fire. But they charg-
ed with bayonets and dislodged the
Germans.
One of the most striking and spec
tacular events of the days fighting
occurred at the so-called Mcnin Tun-
mel, a great underground fortifcation
constructed by the Germans on the
Menin road opposite Hooge. The Brit
ish preliminary bombardment had
forced the Germans to hold the French
line thinly here, and the British divis-
ion which was to attack at dawn lay
out all night in shell holes within
twenty-five yards of the German line,
waiting for the signal to advance.
When the time arrived for the charge
and the British gunners had dropped
a protecting barragc on the German
front trench ahead Of the British
troops, it was seen that the Germans
had taken to their heels and were
fleeing. The British seeing their prey
escaping, charged directly through
their own barrage, fortunately with
out heavy casualties. The Menin tun-
mel, which was expected to be occu-
pied by Germans, was found to be
held only by forty-one, the rest hav-
| ing retreated.
Forced Germans Back.
1t was at the second line that the
British met resistance, and here after
sharp hand-to-hand fighting, they
forced the Germans again to with
draw.
No check has yet been made on the
number Of German prisoners captured,
but they are flowing in a steady
stream back of the British lines. Many