The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-08-09
PRISONERS AND GUNS TAKEN
BYaFRENCH-ENCL|SH TROOPS

Aug. 9.-Fighting their way through
the Germans at dawn on a front of
over fifteen miles astride the River
Somme, British and French troops in
the afternoon had reached points from
SIX to seven miles inside lines which
Thursday morning belonged to the en-.
emy.
The Prussians and Bavarians fled
before the advancing infantry and
tanks. leaving many of their guns be-
hind them.
Allies Loss Small.
Large numbers Of prisoners have
been taken both by the British and
French, and heavy casualties undoubt-
edly have been inflicted on the enemy
Thus far everything has been ac-
complished with excessively small
losses to the allies.
OF one entire British corps, for in
stance, two hours after the attack be-
gan only two officers and fifteen men
Of the ranks were reported as casual.
ties
0uhS FOLLOW Ihrantry.
The artillery has followed up the
storm troops closely and now is hurl-
ing shells down upon the enemy forces,
which. taken by surprise and fiercely
attacked. must be in more or less
crippled condition. 1t is believed that
re-enfOrcements are on the way to help
them.
What tomorrow holds for the enemy
cannot be forecast, but the outlook Is
not promising one under present
conditions.
Hard Battle at MorIancourt.
Moreuil and the country front ad-
joining Villers-aux- -Erables have been
taken by the French, while the British
have captured the DodO and Hamel
woods and Marcelcave after hard fight
beyond.
Especially hard fighting was expert
enced, and still is in progress, on the
left flank Of the fighting front in the
neighborhood of Morlancourt. The
weather helped in the advance.
Tanks Roll Forward
North of the attacked zone the car
mage began at four o'clock in the morn
ing and lasted four minutes. Tanks
then rolled forward, and with them the
infantry swarmed toward the enemy
lines. These lines were reached and
passed as q mist started to roll in.
All along the line, except possibly
northward on the left flank, very little
enemy shelling was experienced after
the attack got well under way.
Boche Caught Unawares.
One new German division which had
just arrived in the line before the at
tack was launched was told to expect
local attacks. Prisoners taken from
this division said they had heard moth
ing of a general attack being cOntem-
plated.
Where the tanks and the armOred
car batteries pressed far forward in
the rolling country there was much agi-
tation among the enemy. A report
came back that British tank, prOba-
bly, one of the fast little Whippets, had
been seen chasing frightened Ger
man general up the road.
But the enemy general was not alone
in the direction in which he was going.
Observers reported considerable col
umns of enemy transport going east
ward in a hurry during the middle of
! the day.
Help Capture Woods.
Farther south, the tanks likewise
did excellent work. They also had
been taken across the River Luce, I'M
| der the cover of night, and they did
valuable work in assisting at the cap
ture of Bodo wood and Hamel wood
and the nearby high ground.
Slightly north of here the British
batteries moved forward so rapidly
that they were up and firing in their
new positions 80 minutes after the in
fantry went over the top, followed at,
! first in this particular case by the
tanks, 1000 yards to the rear.
Mist Aids British.
At six o'clock the weather was so
thick that objects 20 yards away hard
| ly were visible, and the British were
| not slow to take the opportunity to
plunge through under its protection.
About 6 As the first prisoners began
| coming back. They were unwounded
and looked clean, as If they had just
come off parade, showing how complete
had been the surprise. The British
| pounced on them before they had the
slightest chance to give battle.
American Report.
| Washington, Aug. 9.-General Perish
| ing's report says:
| North of the Vesle there were local
| comhats resulting in gain OF ground
| for cur troops"
Berlin Tells of Loss.
| Berlin, Aug g.. The English have
forced their way into German positions
between the Ancre and the Avre, ac-
| cOrding to the statement issued by the
German war Office.