Omaha daily bee., 1918-08-28
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station and wood and the ground
to the east were captured, as well as
Moulin De -Fargy, on the Somme
river bank, which was in the British
front lines at the opening OF the
first battle OF the Somme. Vaux
wood also was occupied and vas held
firmly.
After an all night fight Wancourt
tower and town, south of the Scarpe,
we're taken. and the important He
ninel ridge, as we'll as Heninel village
we're captured. .4@.
Most OF the operations south OF the
Somme have been carried out by a
comparatively peaceful penetration"
for the Germans in this territory are
offering hardly any resistance and
the Australians are simply pushing
ahead, rounding up villages, wood and
ground without having any definite
objective.
It was to the north of the Somme
that the formidable organized attack
was launched by the British on an
8,000-yard front this morning and it
was this which had such good results
in ground-gaining All the British
guns have been moved up and are
following close behind the infantry
and the tanks.
Enemy Barrage Thin.
The barrage laid down north of the
Somme today was as heavy as any
since the battle began, but the enemy
counter-barrage was so thin as hardly
to deserve the name. Obviously the
Germans are trying to save as many
guns as possible. But despite this
they lost many today. One small
British formation alone captured two
complete ~ German field batteries
since yesterday. The capture of these
light batteries is significant. The
Germans ran for their lives when the
British suddenly appeared close to
them and did not even make an effort
to save their guns.
The enemy machine gunners have
shown similar spirit, their principal
idea, apparently, now being to save
themselves.
German soldiers also have begun to
exhibit the greatest contempt Tor their
officers and are carrying their feelings
right into the prisoners cages. In
number OF cages, into which thou
sands are pouring the German SOL
diers have gone out of their way tc
be extremely insolent to their Of
ficers, jeering at them and loudly
proclaiming their views in no TN
certain manner.
Longing for Peace.
Going to such lengths would un'
doubtedIy result in court-martial:
and fir:2g squads in Germany, ant
X = gathered from the prisoners thai
they go as far as they dare even or
their side of the line. All the prison
ers, men and officers, express theil
longing for peace by agreement.
The German 2l4th division is th'
latest to meet with disaster. On'
Of its battalion commanders, hi
adjutant and what remained OF thu
staff were captured, while the uni
itself was virtually wiped out.
The Canadians, in their operation!
| yesterday south of the Scarpe, tool
more than 1000 prisoners and the,
continued their work of capturing
large numbers today.
| Canadians Make Notable Gains.
London, Aug. H.-Canadial
troops made notable advances sout
of the Scarpe river today, according
to. Field Marshal Haig's report oc
cupying Cherisy, Vis-En-Artois an
the Bois Du Sart and taking man
prisoners. Scottish battalions ais
made excellent progress.
/ The Anglo French line from Pix
4 ardy north now runs through Roy
Liancourt and Hallu, to the cas-
of Herleville to Dompierre, which
in German hands. The British hav
not captured Guillemont. but hav
reached the outskirts of Vaux-Vrar
court, which is still German. TIL
| line then runs to the western out
skirts of Ecoust St. Mein, to Gro
stiles. which is German, and to Cher
isy and Gavrelle, both OF which ar
,l British.