The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-24
HAIG DRIVES
BOCHE BACK
WITHLOSS!
Advances Steadily Over a Front
of Fifty Miles.
Bray Now Reported Entirely in
Allied Hands.
BRITISH CLOSE TO BAPAUME
Fall of That City Would Be
Disaster to Huns, 1t Is Said.
Huns Thought Haig Would Stop
at AIbert-Arras Road.
10000 PRISONERS SINCE AUG.
1900 Have Been Captured in
Last Three Days.
Thousand Yet UncOunted Are
Sent Back Today.
Fall of That City Would Be
Disaster to Huns, 1t Is Said.
Huns Thought Haig Would Stop
at Albert-Arras Road.
30, 900 PRISONERS SINCE AUG.
1900 Have Been Captured in
Last Three Days.
Thousand Yet UncOunted Are
Sent Back Today.
(By the Associated Press.l


Aug. 24.-Bray is reported to have
been captured by the British.
Several thousand German prisoners
have passed thru the cages behind
General Byng's third army today. No
effort to count the guns captured has
been made up TO this time.
The British were smashing thru the
German positions this morning all
along the battle front.
The situation at ThiepvaI was un-
certain this morning. La Boissell and
Ovillers were reported to have been
wrested from the enemy.
The town of Miramount appears to
have been surrounded by the British.
Only I 4 Miles from Bapaume.
The British are reported to have
re-ched Biefvillers, one and a quarter
miles from Bapaume. Fighting is go
ing on there and in the vicinity of
Mory. some distance to the east of
the Arras- -Bapaume road.
A battle is raging furiously in the
vicinity Of Bihucourt and Sapignies.
The Germans are trying desperately to
save Bapaume.
There was some heavy fighting in
Flanders this morning on small
scale in the neighborhood of ORA
noutre ridge, in the Lys salient, which
is reported to have been captured by
the Germans
On the other hand the British
.-ained some ground in the same re-
Ston and the fighting continues
Many more prisoners have been taken
everywhere.
Thought British Would Stop.
German prisoners say that it was
expected by them that the British
would stop at the Arras-AIbert rail
against them had confused the Ger
man forces. Tired and depleted Ger
man divisions that had been with
drawn from the battle since August
3 are being rushed back into the
Tight Troops from the enemv's
strategic reserve also have ppeared
along the front
10000 Since August 8.
The third and fourth British armies
nave. since August 8, captured more
than $4,000 men. Two thousand were
taken Yesterday, south of the Somme
ne brltlsh fourth army has captured
nearly 5000 in the last two days. The
prisoners counted since August total
~ 10 men and 59S officers
south OF the Somme, 1000 Germans
were killed in one combat They were
closely huddled in front of the Brit
ISM. instead OF being in the customary
open order The allied casualties are
very small Tanks participated hero
lcally in the fighting yesterday. it is
reported one engaged in a duel with
an enemy battery and siIenced the
German guns Another group of
thanks co-operated with a group of
airplanes when the latter attacked
German anti-tank guns that had been
strateSically located at the head Of
gully thru which the tanks had to
70. One tank suffered seven direct
hits and all the crew were wounded
except the pilot. who kept the mon
ster running. finished off a machine
gun nest and brought the wobbly, bad
~ damaged tank and his wounded
comrades back safely thru the rain of
fire.
London. Aug. "a q p. mD British
forces are within two miles of Ba-
paume. according to dispatches re-
ceived in London today.
The British third army is advanc-
ing very rapidly. 1t has gone forward
IN some places to the depth of four
miles on a front of twelve miles.
London. Aug. 24.-Ffeld Marshal
Hsig's forces are fighting on the
slopes of ThiepvaI ridge and along
the eastern bank of the Ancre river
north of Albert. where British patrols
have entered the town of Miraumont.
From that latter village the British
line runs to Bihucourt thence to Ervil-
lers. which is in British hands, and
then to Boyelles and Boiry- -Becquer-
ellie. joining the old line near Mercatel
Resumed Attack This Morning.
London. Aug 24.-British attacks
in the Albert sector were resumed
this morning. according to an official
statement issued by the war office to-
day. which says that the British have
made progress.
In the fighting during the last three
LAYS the British have captured $4,000
prisoners
British Take Whole Batteries.
(By the Associated PressJ
With the British Army in France.
Aug. PA large number of cannon
Including complete batteries of howit-
zers and trench mortars. have been
captured by the British north of the
Somme- Immediately south of the
river the British have taken twelve
cannon.
The village of Behagnies. two miles
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