Evening star., 1918-07-05
1900 Prisoners and Many
Gyms Seized by Haig
South of Somme.
ALLIES CONTINUING
HARASSING TACTICS
Trench Continue Successful Raids.
Americans Played Big Part in
Most Recent English Success.
By the Associated Press.

Harassing of the German
lines in the west shows no signs
of letting up, and the allies con-
tinue to gain ground here and
there and bring in large patches
of German prisoners.
The. game of striking the
enemy a solid blow on a small
sector now has been taken up on
the British front, and an ad-
vance of a mile and half on a
width of four miles, with the
capture of 1900 prisoners south
of the Somme, testifes to the
hitting powers of the Aus
tralians aided by American de-
tachments. German efforts to
hold the attacking Australians
and Americans, who have ap-
peared on this part of the line
for the first time, were in vain.
Germans Are Checked.
Last night the British had SO well es-
tablished themselves in their new posi-
tions that when the Germans delivered
a counter attack it was easily repulsed
In addition to the prisoners taken a
GALA m
chine guns were captured.
Between the Disc and the Aisne, where
the latest French blow gained consider
able ground and more than 1000 prison
ers. the Germans have not attempted
counter thrusts. Here also the enemy
artillery has been the only means Of
retaliation for the ground and prisoners
lost. The Germans have given up their
counter attacks and heavy gun fire
against the new American positions west
OF Chateau Thierry, but are bombarding
the village Of st. Pierre Aigle. south Of
the Aisne, gained by the French Tues
day.
Take Useful Positions.
ee0sfve thrusts in the past ten days or
more, the allies on the western front
have taken from the Germans posi-
tions which would have been very
useful in future offensive operations.
Whether the policy of nibbling is
holding back renewal of heavy enc
my attacks is not known. but there
can be no doubt that by pushing the
Germans out of locally important po.
sitions here and there between Ypres
and Rheims. Gen. Foch is giving the
German command something to con-
slider seriously as to the effect on
German morale. The number of
prisoners taken in the past week is
nearly 5000.
Almost without exception Berlin
has declared officially that the allied
attacks were repulsed It claims
that the French thrust north Of the
Aisne was broken up in the front line,
while 1t describes the thrust on the
fSomme as patrol attacks" which
twere frustrated.
Report In Detail.
The text Of the statement reads:
The total number of prisoners
ful operations on the somme ex-
ceeds 1900. One German field gun, in
addition to more than 100 machine
guns and a number Of trench NOR
stars. have SO far been counted.
"A hostile attack against our new
was easily repulsed. A few prisoners
were left in our hands.
"A successful raid was carried out
by us in the Beaumont -Hamel sector.
An attempted hostile raid in the
neighborhood of Strazeele (Flanders
'front.' was repuIsed."
German Counter Attack Fails.
BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, July 5.-The Germans last
night delivered a counter attack upon
the new positions gained by the Brit
ish on the Amiens front. to the east
of the village of Hamel. The war
> oflce announced today the enemy had
been repulsed in this attempt and left
prisoners In the British hands.
More than 1900 prisoners were taken
by the British forces in yesterdays
operation in the Somme area. In ad-
dftion. 100 machine guns and a num-
Americans Render Aid.
LONDON, July 4.-Detachments of
tralians in capturing Hamel. This an
nouncement was made officially to-
night. Field Marshal Haig's report of
this battle and other events along the
British front says:
"The operation this morning south
OF the Somme was completely success
ful. 1t was carried out by Australian
troops. assisted by some detachments
"a ana supported
by tanks. Our detectives were taken
and held and We have gained posses
sion of the woods of Vaire and HameI.
as well as the village of Hamel,
Tn conjunction with this operation
an attack by Australian troops east OF
, Ville-Sur-Ancre was completely sue.
T. cessful and our line was advanced
500 yards on q front Of 1000 yards.
Tho prisoners captured by us fin
these operations exceed one thousand
Many machine guns. as well as Other
material, also have been taken.
"On the rest of the front there is
nothing of interest to report"
Six German Aeros Downed.
British aerial forces have been ac.
tive along the front in spite of ad.
verse weather conditions. according tt
an official statement on aerial opera
tions issued tonight. Six German ma.
chimes were destroyed and four other,
were driven down out of control dur
ing July 8. the statements adds. Tht
text Of the statement reads:
On July . the weather was cloud,
L and enemy activity was slight. Oul
machines carried out q number o,
"Reminiscences and co-operated will
l the artillery. as usual Six enemy ma