Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-24

Beginning at the north of the line
then, understand, one division took
Hamelincourt in the night and ex
tended the gain northward to Boyelles
and east past St. Leger to within
about two miles of Croisilles. Fur
ther south Gomiecourt-not to be con-
fused with historic Gommicourt wood
was taken. together, apparently
with Ervillers. Both Prussians and
Bavarians lost very heavily, and the
conflict was marked by much con
fusion and many deaths.
Prisoners report that whole bat
talions were wiped out, but. as I have
noticed before, prisoners reports must
be taken with caution. About SOC
of them were captured ia this north
ern section of our advance. Achiet
LIE Grand held double numbers in its
defenses, and certainly 1t formed a
center Of the battle, but so did Beau
regard, or Dovecote, about three miles
southwest toward Miraumont. This
excellent observation post has been
fought over and changed hands five
or six times. and though the British
are said to hold it again, now It is
hard to be certain.
Miraumont Is still in the enemy's
hands. or. more properly, II is an ex.
tended No Mans Land. for no one
cares to enter its poisoned streets. In
this section of the line about 1900
prisoners had been counted by noon
Advance Toward Bapaume
Since the Germans finally evacu.
ated Albert Thursday afternoon the
British troops have pushed out east
ward toward the so-called Usna Val.
ley and Tara Hill. but the result is
at the moment uncertain. We only
k low that the British troops have
advanced about a mile along the Ba.
paume road.
South Of Albert our line now runs
along the Ancre to Dernancourt and
thence southeast over high upland
between the Corner Of the Ancre and
the Somme near Bray. understand
that Meaulte, on top Of this line has
not yet been captured nor has BRAY
at the other end, though one eup
poses that the enemy cannot be com
Portable in either.
Early yesterday morning was or
the main road close up to BRAY ant
could see how difficult was the posi-
ton upon the down or upland on m,
left toward Meaulte, for the ridge /.
absolutely bare, and slopes gently up
ward like glacis or wave OF oper
veldt.
Thursday afternoon the Germans
violently counter.attacked upon thi.
ridge. Apparently they came up from
a deep valley beyond and rushed tn,
position. The worst fighting seems tC
have been when small railway
winds up from the valley to cross thu
ridge, and descends into Bray. Those
who were present and told me of the
event always mentioned the fighting
on the railway, and they drew very
terrible picture of 1t.
What seems true was that part OF
the British line here was pressed bach
and the situation was only saved by
some Australians on the right whc
swung back their flank and SO sue
ceeded in covering The remainder o.
their force and the position. though
they had to fight on two fronts almos
at right angles to each other. The po
sition Is reported to have been re
stored by q counter-attack yesterday
morning, but the men I met coming
from the scene were much exhausted
from fatigue and strain.
Tanks Advance First
SOul1l Ol play otioSS lile Soliiiiie
the Australians advanced along fou
miles of the front from the river t.
Herlinville. A barrage started at 4:4
o'clock yesterday morning and the,
tanks advanced first. the infantry fol
lowing closely. Chuigno.lrs was takel
at once and half. the. village or RUM
of Chuignes. a mile qorr-so beyond
together with thespurs' of the piatea'
looking down into the valley east o
Chuignes and runnirs for, some fou
miles down to itheer ruins of Fay.
The ridge on the British side Of thi
valley was, very strongly held. Tn
heaviest fighting was there and yer!
MANY Germans now lie out upon II
From the top of 1t one looks almos
due north across the Somme to Su
zanne. which is only about nine or tel
miles from Peronne, atthe great angl'
of the river. pr
The British losses are reported t
be very light considering the opposl
ton.
In this sector the prisoners at moor
were said to be some thtrty-hve OIL
| GERS and 1900 men, and It was eX
| pected that the number would reacf
1000.
II is possible the enemy may coun
tGr-aIIaCk III lIle NN''Ss -
the whole movement from north u
south has been successful and thu
advance regular with only few ex
ceptions at particular points.
| August 22--I returned today TO tn
attack by General Byng's third army oil
| the German line, lying about half wa.
between Arras and Albert. or, NOR
exactly. from Moyenneville to Beaucour
on the Ancre In summary the situation
| at noon was as follows:
| The British advance measured 800
! wards in depth as maximum, but tn
maximum was pretty general II wa
almost an average. Our troops now hol
all the line of the railway along thi
front, with the exception OF secto
south of Achiet-le-Grand. nearly t
Miramount, where they remain fey
hundred yards west Of the railway
| chiefly owing to the deep cutting, whic
Is very strongly defended by machin
guns from the eastern side
Germans Withdraw Guns
| At noon tho total of prisoners cam
IN 26O0 together with three guns, tn
latter not being numerous because tn
Germans began to withdraw their gun
Immediately upon attack, II. indeed, the
had not begun the withdrawn before.
Miramont has not been occupied, br
&c becoming encircled, and is full OF ga
Some of our tanks are reported 10 nav
crossed the railway and to have bee
seen on the Bapaume road, but the
: fate is uncertain. The heaviest fghtin
has been in the capture of Courcelle
in the north, and of a point known q
peauregard and Dovecote, and nortl
west of Miraumont in the south of II
line
Our casualties have been slight an
| l;,,i,innc have thew eQualed II