Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-24
DESPERATE FIGHTING MARKS
STEADY SWEEP OF BRITISH

said to have crossed the lines, but
were lost in the fog beyond. and the
fighting for the railway lasted till 6
o'clock last evening, when 1t was
gained, and our troops are now re.
ported to be holding the rid ge about
of a Lewiston on the extreme left, were
badly gassed by shells during their
assembly, which seems to show that
the enemy on this part Of the line was
not so much surprised by our attack
as on other parts.
At Courcelles, as I have observed,
the conflict was severe, but the 1divi-
sions engaged passed through 1t to
the railway, which they now hold.
Among the prisoners in this section
were four Austrian observers, who
spoke of the thoroughly good relations
still existing between the Austrians
and their German Allies. A noncom-
missioned officer, who waited to be
captured in Courcelles, said that as
observer he had reported that our
troops were mastering for attack
near Adinfer Wood at dawn. AS Adm
fer Wood is quite three miles from
Courcelles. and I, who was there
wednesday and could not see fifty
yards toward Courcelles, that sergeant
must have been an observer of ex-
traordinary value. Prisoners taken in
Logeast Wood, which was expected to
give far more trouble than it did, re.
port that, though their part of the Ger.
man army is in good condition and
well fed, there is great shortage Of
first lieutenants, which proves that
the best young blood Of Germany Is
being drained
Further south again there was some
opposition to our advance ut Ablainze'
vile, Bucquoy and Achiet.la Petite,
but hardly any at PuisieuX. and Ger.
tain famous division advanced almost
up to the railway with very slight
loss.
But, unfortunately, the division at
tacking Achiet.la-Grand,u upon the rail-
way itself, never quite succeeded in
occupying it. and part of the line run.
ming through the cutting south of
that, as l noticed above. had not been
taken by us at noon today. This was
more unfortunate because tho lines
curve westward, and SO threaten to
expose the right flank, or even the
rear, of the division just north of left
of our own troops in that sector.
Miraumont Filled with Gas ,
Soon after midday today a barrage
was put down upon the enemy here
and the position Is probably being
assaulted as | write. We have also
filled the ruins of Irles, just across
the railway, and Of Miraumont, at the
beginning Of its further curve south.
west toward Albert, with gas. AS for
Miraumont itself, not any, one would
now wish to enter that once admired
city.
The heaviest fighting of yesterday
and last night and today has been in
| the neighborhood of Serre and at the
| point of Beauregard or Dovecote-a
strange name now for so odious and
| bloodstained n place-about halfway
between Puissieux and Miraumont.
Around Serre our forward battery
positions We're heavily gassed yester.
day. For Beauregard, one of our di.
visions which I have known as an
| example of fortitude and endurance
in strange episodes of the past, had
| to struggle hard till late last night.
At o'clock this morning a fresh
German division. the Fifty-second.
| which has just been brought down
from the Merris region, counter.at.
tackled with successful violence. But
our men returned later in the morn
| ing and drove it out again. Two ia.
| nous brigades. which ! long to men
| ton for old acquaintance sake, spe-
cially distinguished themselves. So
the situation remained when I was
| obliged to return from that front early
this afternoon. Both yesterday and
today have been hot.
hear now that this morning a part
Of the division in the north across
| the railway from Moyenneville was
attacked by the 1S1st and Fortieth
Saxon divisions at Hamelincourt, but
obliterated the attack: also that our
airplanes have done great service in
bombing the enemy's transports and
communications. In one place they
pursued and destroyed n train, and
they have dropped about 450 bombs
I with destructive result.