The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1917-09-14
take PRISONERS
IN TRENCH RAIDS
Sharp Fighting on SOmme Front,
Langicourt and ST. Julien.
MIST HAMPERS AEROPLANES

Night Attacks Successful at Langi-
court-Three Enemy Machines Are
Downed-Scots Give Germans Sur
prise Party-New Zealand Officer
Swims River-Indian Troops in
Fierce Counter Attack.
LONDON, ENG. - There was local
fighting between British and German
forces in the neighborhood of Villeret,
on the Somme front, the British war
department announces. The statement
reads:
1--WE captured few prisoners in the
course of local fighting in the neigh
borhood of Villeret, southeast of Har'
gicourt
''The hostile artillery activity con-
tinued to the east of Ypres.
I'm the last few days, owing to I'M
favorable weather, operations by our
naval aircraft have been restricted.
In operations which occurred, how
ever, one enemy aircraft was shot
down and another was driven out Of
control.
Bombs have been dropped on the
Houttave airdrome, but owing to bad
visibility the results could not be OBJ
served All our machines returned
safely"
Night Attacks Successful.
The official report from British
headquarters in France reads: 'In ad-
dition to those reported Monday
morning a few prisoners were taken
during the night in the course of pa
troll encounters in the neighborhood
of Langicourt In the night there
was local fighting in which we cap
tured several prisoners southeast Of
st. Julien.
Southeast of st. Jenshock the enc
my raided one of our advanced posts,
from which a few of our men are
missing. The post has since been re-
established The artillery has been &C
tive on both sides during the day east
of Ypres.
ION Sunday a thick mist greatly
hampered aerial operations. Artillery
cooperation was carried out when
possible and a few bombs were drop
ped by day and night on hostile air
domes. Three enemy machines were
brought down and four were driven
down out of control. Five of our ma
chimes are missing.
Scots Surprise Germans.
Recently a small party from Scot
fish division lay up one evening on
each side of the track in the neighbor
hood of the BapaumeCambrai road.
After two hours waiting they success
fully ambushed two parties of the en-
envy. Several Germans were killed
or wounded and one prisoner was
taken We had no casualties.
"In the afternoon of Aug. "a New
Zealander nOncommissioned officer
swan the river and passed five and a
half hours accommodating the German
side of the stream. In the evening he
found a raft, on which he returned
Two hours later he RATED a patrol Of
three men across the river, surprised
a small German post and killed it's
occupants and brought the patrol back
in safety.
Indian Troops Clear Wood.
'In the course of fighting for knoll
east of Epemy, at the end of August,
a small party of north country troops,
without loss to themselves, rushed a
German post southeast of the knoll,
bombing the adjoining dugout and de-
stroying the enemy's defense.
''In the same sector patrol Of dis
mounted Indian cavalry holding a
small wood was attacked by an enemy
raiding party and forced to withdraw.
A counter attack followed, and at the
cost of four casualties the wood was
cleared of the enemy.
"On another occasion British patrols
encountered a large enemy party
working on German wire in the Hav-
rincourt sector. Our men opened fire
with rifles and Lewis guns with such
effect that the Germans left half their
number in casualties in their own
wire"