Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-08-17
Tanks Create Fear
in Hearts of Huns
in Recent Battle

ing the lull in the big battle, which has
pow resolved itself into reciprocal ar
tiilery fire. it is possible to clear way
the fog that has enveloped some of the
most astounding episodes in which THIS
great surprise victory abounds.
| 1 am now able to give a clear idea
OF the Importance OF tanks and arm
ored cars to this action. where 10000
Germans changed ownership
The foes military critics them
selves. in trying to- ameliorate the
poignancy Of the defeat. have out
spokenly criticized the German SOL
diers for still being afraid Of the
tanks.
They should talk with the men
captured in towns. trenches and
trains, who frankly say:
! There's no use trying to stop tanks,
for if you do you are fattened out
They frankly admit the German
soldiers, despite their intensive train
ing in anti-tank warfare. and the
use Of the high powered anti-tank
rife. are suffering from tank
fright"
One prisoner said nearly ever.
time one of those elephant guns"
vas fired the man who discharged It
was thrown head ver-heels by its
terrible recoil, for it is only lightly
supported, to be easily movable. and
the tank crews have seen them upset
| by the recoil.
Rapid Firers Helpless.
Despitet armor piercing bullets, ma
chine gunners state they have no
change against tanks. The best to
do. they declare. IL near the front
line, is to surrender. That is why
the tanks in this latest operation en-
rolled so many prisoners.
The tank family has some unusual
progeny. including "whippets," which
with the same attributes.
Reports of their stirring deeds
were still coming In today when
visited tank headquarters, and was
enabled to witness. in Va thrilling
show. how those steel monsters work
with airplanes in battle.
Airnen's Leg Shot OFF.
foe plane was maneuvering to
knock out british tank. when a Brit
it5h two-seater came to the rescue. It's
pilot made a nose dive out Of the clout.s
to give battle. but seven other enemy
planes soon appeared to attack HIM.
! In a running battle the pritisher was
shot thru the left leg with three high
explosive bullets. The leg had hung
only by a shred of flesh and, as the air
mans report in the hospital stated, the
leg had fallen into his controls and he
had to lift 1t out. Meanwhile he had
been shot in the right foot.
But he managed to evade his pur-
suers. and finally shot down the enemy
machine meracing the advancing tank.
Eventually he made safe landing. then
tainted. His observer was wounded also
but the tank went on.
Surrenders in atches.
When the tanks first attacked the
advanced German trenches some of
the enemy tarried to use their machine
guns. only to be flattened out By the
onrushing monster.
Others leaped Efgrom the trenches.
threw away their arms and surrender
ed in big patches. many drifting toward
/, the British lines by themselves with
arms upheld, because no one had time
to accompany them.
| The tanks had planted their flag
and the flag Of the Australian corps at
Germans corps headquarters at Fran
erville and at division headquarters at
Harbonnieres more than an hour be-
fore the infantry could reaches those
places and had continued their merry
way, ploughing thru houses and mach
inc gun nests with deadly effect.
| Many Driven Into Ground.
| When the British communique Tues
day night said thousands Of machine
guns had been captured and gave no
accurate number, II was making further
allowances for hundreds Of these deadly
weapons which were crushed into the
ground by tanks. and which can be
counted only after being dug up Tween
German trench, along with some Of
their dead defenders.
As fast as they could the German
batteries opened on the tanks and arm
ored cars. One battery Of SOS firing
blank. tried to smash one tank by direct
hit. But the tank adopted zigzag
course and escaped being hit, finally
crushing the whole battery to pieces
with it's defenders. Many guns were
! thus captured.
At another place three tanks adj
vanced toward a wood whence Ger
man 0.SS were WORKING at 1renZleQ
rate, finally hitting one tank. The other
tanks Immediately let off a dense smoke
cloud. and while. the Germans were
firing into the cloud they executed a
flank movement, annihilating the whole
outfit.
Plough Through Five Houses.
In another instance the French
called for assistance to take villege
and tanks ploughed through flve
heavily defended houses. clearing out
the enemy from the town by this as
sault. They French tren came into it
without a single casualty.
| It was an armored car which cap
tured a Prussian officer in his night
shirt at division headquarters at Har-
Eonniere. after he had made a record
breaking sprint and finally landed In
the prison cage. naked, but alive and
contented.
Armored cars got behind one town
into which they saw tanks advancing
and when the Germans rallied to repel
the tanks the armored cars poured a
deadly fire into the rear of the enemy
lines.
One armored car claimed 400 cas-
| ualties, saying it grew irksome to