Albuquerque morning journal., 1918-08-22

right over our position ana / surren-
dcrad.
AS tanks and men followed behind
the sweeping barrage, the atmos-
phere became even more thick. for
mixed with the fog We're great banks
of smoke from innumerable shells
fired for just this purpose of increas-
ing the protection screen.
The German guns retaliated only
feeDly, but there was sharp fighting
at various points. where isolated posts
filled with machine guns and gunners
put up a stiff battle. At tho little
shell-rnned~ village of Courcelles
about the center OF the battle front,
the GefiRSn garrison AAde a desper-
ate fight and for time the advance
of the infantry was held UP at this
place.
British Aided BY Tanks.
Then the attacks arrived on the
scene and charged into the enemy po-
sitions, quickly transforming them
from strongholds to shambles. The
tanks repeated this performance at
other places in the line where the
stubborn boches held out COURAGEOUS
ly, But their courage awaited thcm
nothing in the face of the great tanks
dipping in and out of shell holes and
across cid trenches that have been
some of the wars fiercest fighting
and the smaller whippet tanks and
armored cars which sped over the
ground at n great rate on their mis-
sion of clearing the way for the in
fantly, sweeping in at the rear of the
positions from which the enemy was
working his guns
In comparison with the harder
fighting it is worthy. of mention that
at some places no resistance of any
practical importance developed. For
instance, the village of Beaucourt was
taken with only three casualties. One
wounded man returning from the
fighting said he went in three kilome-
ters through the enemy lines before
seeing a single Boche. This is ex-
planned by the fact that the German
positions were very thinly held at
some points.
No Figures on Prisoners,
AS to prisoners. there is no defin-
ite information, but more than one
thousand have reached the cages and
they have come in from a considerable
distance, most of them having been
captured during the early fighting
Some of the prisoners, arrived at the
porcelain pipes. They seemed clean
and We're as pleased with themselves
as II going on leave, one Of them on
being questioned said he was very
happy to be taken.
A wounded British soldier told of
being separated from his platoon in
the fog, but he pressed on neverthe-
less and joined other groups One
said that, plunging blindly through the
fog, he ran directly into a German
| machine gun, which opened fire on
him. 1t managed TO get in one shot,
taking off a finger before he and his
comrades finished off the Germans
with their rifles.
Fog Clears Away Completely.
In the forenoon the fog cleared
away completely and the sun appeared
and ever since the battle has been
progressing under a broiling sun AS
the fog disappeared the roar of air.
plane motors increased, the British
machines pursuing the same tactics
as at the Somme. harassing the enemy
! at the rear and strafing the ground
troops generally upsetting them com
pletely at many places.
The fast little whippet tanks had,
as one tank officer said, gone out in
to the wide world and there is no
| doubt that they are exacting as great
q toll here as they did south of the
| Somme. The armored cars had gone
| into action also, operating far forward,
chasing the Boche from his many
| lairs and making quick work Of those
| who would not run.
In this battle the advancing troops
did not stop a moment at their early
detectives. Several formations Joined
forces and pressed on the ground.
Successive echelons were merged at a
place where the going was heavy.
The battle continues with unabated
fury and there is no sign that its con-
clusion is near.
Vets Go TO Columbus