Bisbee daily review., 1918-07-05
SURPRISE ONSLAUGHT TIMED TO TAKE PLACE ON AMERICAS IN DEPENDENCE DAY TAKES EN- EMY BY SURPRISE AND CAP TURING MANY
HAMEL VILLAGE TAKEN
FIFTEEN HUNDRED PRISONERS IN BRITISH CAGES LATE YES TERDAY, WHILE HUNDREDS OF GERMANS LAY DEAD ON BAT TIE FIELD
CBy Review Leased vIrel

LONDON. Juyl 4.-Detachments of American infantry sssited the Aus 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 Brit- ish front says
 The operation this morning. slutA os Somme was completely successful It was carried out by Australian troops assisted by some detachments of American infantry and supported by tanks. Other objectives were taken and held and we gained possession Of the woods of Varie and Hamel. as well as the village of Hamel.
 ''In conjunction with this operation, an attack by Australian troops east of Ville-Sur-Ancre was completely sue cessful and our line was advanced five hundred yards on a front of twelve hundred yards
 "The prisoners captured by us in these operations exceeded 1000 Many machine guns. as well as other ma tC~ial, also have been taken.
 "On the rest of the front there is nothing of interest to report"
 WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE, July (By the Associated Press) s).-COmplete success crowned the splendid surprise attack made b. the Australians and Americans ar down today against the Germans be- tween Vflers- -BretOnneaux and the r.-hfah kaar1 specially set to coincide with inde- pendence day.
 The enemy was taken entirely un- aware. and the big framed fighters from Australia and America stormed their way through the bewildered grey coats with little oppositiOn-a verit- able human tornado which left wake of death behind it
 Hamei village was rushed and taken in short order. Varie and Hamel Woods. with their nests of cracking machine guns were passed through as if the Australians were doing a practice charge for their commander. and a line of enemy trenches east or these strong holds was cleared out and annexed.
  British cages this afternoon. while out on the battle field great numbers of the German empeTOT's men lay silent under the brilliant sunshine which could bring them no cheer.
 It took the assaulting forces about an hour and half to wrest from the enemy territory four miles wide and averaging a mile and a half deep. By this operation they eliminated sali- ent in the British line and gained valuable high ground. The casualties were exceedingly light
 Two minutes before that hour the British artillery along the sector drop ped a tremendous barrage from guns of all calibers.
 This was the first warning Even the great. uncouth tanks had been got ten into position without the enemy being aware of their presence.
 The first streams of dawn were be- ginning to light the rolling valley Ot the SOmme as the adventurous Au- strians went forward to law the corne- stone for this Fourth of July memOr- ial. A dense smoke barrage was sent swishing out toward the German lines and through this cOncealing shroud the tanks began to crawl swiftly into action.
 Behind these and even riding on top of them were the frreDressible Austri- ans. grinning their delight at the pros nects of another good fight. There was a furry of rifle fire from the start led enemy. and hostile machine guns began to chatter viciously as they poured their stream of bullets 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 but it was without effect.
 The guns of the tanks began to hurl explosives The Australians charged ,r with their iron friends. and as they went they found the going easier. The enemy infantry declined to face these forts and the khaki-clad