Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-08-21
BIG GAINS MA|[DDE: |:
. THROUGH A MIST
Offensive Along Front Of TO-
600 Yards Yields Many
Towns and War Supplies
SURPRISE TO THE ENEMY
Started at 8 O'Clock Through
Dense Fog = Retaliatory
Measures Are Slight.


By Associated Press.
British forces struck the Germans
over a front of approximately ten
miles on the lines southwest Of Ara
ras at dawn this morning.
According to meagre details re-
ceived from the scene of the new as
sault the British have advanced from
two to three miles and have cap
tured the town of Moyennevilles
Pouroelles Achiet-le-Petit and Beau
court-sur-Ancre and have reached
the town OF Achiet-le-Grand.
The assault was begun under the
cover of a mist which materially as
sisted the British in their advance. IL
would appear from this that there
was only little IL any, artillery prep
similar to that followed south of the
Aisne on July IS and north OF Mont
didlers on August 8. A large number
Of tanks participated In the attack.
Unofficial dispatches appear TO In
dicate that the British advance has
carried the battle lineup to a point
three miles from Bapaume, a place
reputed to be an important German
base in the northern Picardy sector.
If the British drive continues to
press the Germans back along the
northern side Of the Picardy salient.
enemy forces further south would
appear to be in a serious position
They are holding back the British and
French along line west of and para
llel to the Somme and north of that
river they have made desperate resis-
tance against allied attack as far
north as Albert The new advance
seems to have placed the northern
section Of the enemy's front in great
danger.
In the Flanders battle area the
Germans are also under heavy pres
sure. The British official reports says
that during the past night an attack
was made against Mestubert, just
northwest of Lens to the Lave river,
a distance of over four miles.
The village of La Touret, at about
the middle OF this line has been cap
tured. This marks an advance OF
nearly a mile at this point
In the northern side of the Lys
salient the British made local at-
tack over O mile front near Locre this
morning. The important Dranoutre
rIddge has been wrested from the
enemy and the Locre hospice, 2
group of buildings which has been
the scene of frequent and terrific
lighting since April. has been at
tackled.
Between the Aisne and the oIse
French troops continued their ad-
vance this morning. The progress
made there during the past two days
seems to have placed in jeopardy the
German lines east of Scissors and
also about Mons.
BIZ Associated Press.
LONDON, Aug. 21:-An attack on
@ wide front north of the Ancre river
was launched by the British forces
this morning, the official statement
from Field Marshal Haig today said.
Satisfactory progress is being made.
the statement adds.
Tuesday afternoon the British
threw back strong German attacks
against the new British positions
south and north of the Scarpe.
The statement reads.
1--WE attacked at 4:55 o'clock this
morning on wide front north Of the
Ancre river. Our troops are reported
to be making satisfactory progress.
Yesterday afternoon strong hostile
attacks. accompanied by heavy bonn
bardment against our new positions
south and north of the 6carpe were
completely repulsed."
While the wings OF the attacking
front Is not clearly defined, a wide
front" probably would include lane
from the Ancre 10 the Scarpe, about
fifteen miles. There has not been any
heavy fighting recently on the line
north Of Ancre, although the Germans
some days ago retired slightly on the
front between Beaumont-Hamel and
Bucquoy. There has been more or
less raiding activity. however.
The battlefront from north of Ancre
to north of Lens has not seen as great
a change as other sectors between the
Ypres and Rheims since the beginning
of the German offensive on March 81.
In making an attack here II would
appear that Marshal Foch Is striving
to break the old German lines IN the
Arras area. Any considerable forward
movement there would menace the
German positions north and south for
many miles. Strategically, blow
here would seem 20 be a companion
one 10 the French offensive south OF
the Oise and a strong attempt 10 force
the Germans 10 retire all along the
line.
By Associated Prsss.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
FRANCE. Aug. 21:-In the first hour
OF the offensive, begun this morning
by Field Marshal Haig, the British
troops captured the towns Of Ablain-
zeveile, Beaucourt and Moyenneville.
The British attacked on a front OF
ten miles between Arras and Albert
The attack extended from the Ancre
river up Beaucourt. Just north OF
Some German field guns and two
prisonets had been taken IN
the new stride at an early hour.
All the German outposts end posi-
tions along the important prRroQtre
Ridge, between Koudekot and the Lo-
ere aosplce has been attacked by the
British. The result % Tar Is not
known. This front Is In the Lys saii-
ent.
CourteIlss and Aehiet-ie- Petit also
were captured IN the British drive
Although prisoners said the Ger
mans had been expecting the attack
for n week Il was q tactical surprise
Tanks and infantry advanced through.
the heaviest IRE IN the gray morning
light.
After a brief crash bombardment
the British troops were upon the en-
emy almost before he knew H.
(continued on page %
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