The Sentinel=record., 1918-07-05

With the British Army in France.
July 4.--Comlnlete success crowned
the splendid attack made by the
Australians at dawn today against
the Germans between Nillers- Bre-
tonneaux and the Somme-an attack
which had teen specially set to Co
incide with Independence Day. The
enemy WAS taken entirely unawares
and the fighters from Australia
stormed their way through the be
wildered gray coats with little oppO-
sition-a veritable human tornado.
which left a wake of dead behind it.
Hamel village was rushed and
taken in short order. Vaire and
Hamel woods, with their nests of
cracking machine guns, were passed
through as if the Australians we're
doing practice charge for their
commander, and a line of enemy
trenches east OF these strongholds
was cleaned out and annexed
About 1900 prisoners We're in the
British cages this afternoon, while
out on the battlefield great numbers
OF the German emperor's men lay ST
lent under the brilliant sunshine
1t took the assaulting forces about
an hour and half to complete their
work and at the end of that time
they had with exceedingly light cas-
ualties wrested from the enemy a
strip Of territory four miles wide and
averaging mile and a half deep.
eliminating a salient in the British
line and gaining valuable high
ground
The Australians went over the top
behind a large number of tanks.
which were to pilot the way. Two
minutes before that hour the British
artillery all along the sector dropped
a tremendous barrage on the German
defenses from guns of all calibres
Not a word concerning the attack
had reached the enemy. Even the
great, uncouth tanks had been got
ten into position without his being
aware of their presense. The first
streaks of dawn were beginning to
light the rolling valley of the Somme
as the adventurous Australians went
forward to lay the cornerstone of
this Fourth OF July memorial.
A dense smoke barrage was sent
swishing out toward the German
lines and through this conceaing
shroud the tanks began to crawl into
action. Behind these great engines
OF war, and even riding on top of
them were the irrepressible Austral-
isns, grinning their delight at the
prospects of another good fight.
There was a furry of rifle fire from
the startled enemy and hostile ma
chine guns began to chat er viciously
as they poured their stream of bull
lets out across the dimly lighted No
Mans Land toward the oncoming
bank of smoke which concealed they
knew not what.
The German artillery began to re-
ply to the British aunners in an at
tempt to stem the attack, bur were
without effect.
The guns of the tanks began 10
hurl explosives into the enemy de-
fenses The Australians charged on
with their iron friends ana as they
went they found the going easier.
The enemy declined to face these in
vulnerable forces and the khaki clad
men from the far land who tough.
like demons and staked their lives
as they would a sixpence on the
green cloth.
All along the line the Germans be-
gan their frenzied calling of ~kam-
Grad" "kamerad,' mercy"
About them their unfortunate
comrades were falling in great num-
hers before the fire Of the tanks
and the play of the Australian rifles
and bayonets.
One German battalion commander