New-York tribune., 1918-09-12

prisoners have been taken from the
Regiment Alexander and Regiment Au-
gusta who have not only exhibited the
greatest pleasure at being captured but
actually urged the British to go on
attacking and take as many Germans
as possible, so as to end the war quick
". Then as each fresh batch Of pris-
oners arrived at the cages the Germans
previously captured cheercd the British
success.
Some idea Of just what the average
intelligent German soldier thinks of
the war now may be CLEANED from a
letter written on August 90 by a non
commissioned officer to his brother IN
the ranks:
81 had to retreat through Galicia in
1916. says the writer, "and | know
we'll enough what it means It is per-
fectly obvious that YOU have had heavy
casualties from retirement of the
kind you have been making, but 1t can
not be helped. You must be glad to
he resting now, but you wont be al
lowed that satisfaction long, for q lot
of men and material are needed now
and there isn't much of either.
uermCnyS OeIeat FOFeCAst
Il am only interested in whether we
are going to hold out longer than this
winter. In my opinion the English
will bring up such crowds of Ameri-
cans and others next spring that we
will be unable to stand the heavy
pressure. Also. our enemies Will have
such a number of aircraft available
that we shall not know where TO find
cover from this horror
Taking it all round. we are in a
bad position. not only here at the
front, but at home. too, things arc in
very bad way. And ethe Eastern prob
lem crops up again, And l shall be in
terested to see whether the English
will succeed in starting a mess there
again. As far as | can hear we are
again moving great many troops to
the East"
British in Old Trenches
In general the British are continu-
line bv series Of small actions and
mannuvres The lines in the northern
part of the battle zone have now been
advanced through the village of Tres
cault, three and one-half miles south
west of Marcoing, to the eastern edge
actually in the old British trenches
facing the Hindenburg line.
In the south Australian troops have
advanced in the area from Vermand
10 the outskirts of Attilly, on the edge
of Holnon Wood from the other side
of which the whole of the flat country
up to the famous German defensive
positions and the spires of st. Quentin
are clearly visible.
In the centre the British have gained
footing in Peizierc and Epehy, and
this morning an attack was launched
against the enemy trenches northwest
Of Peiziere.
The enemy positions were stormed
during a downpour of rain. The troops
are reported to have gained their OBJ
jective, although the advance was made
over ground covered with oozy, slip
perry mud.
German Attacks Repuised
The enemy has delivered several
small counter attacks. The line west
of Gouzeaucourt was attacked last
night, but the advancing Germans were
met with a withering machine gun fire
and were repulsed everywhere except
at one place where they managed to
penetrate a British post at the cross
roads known as Dead Mans Corner.
Another party tried to enter the
British trenches southwest of Moeuvres,
but was repulsed with comparatively
heavy casualties.
The enemy delivered q hurricane
bombardment in the Sensee Valley last
night, and soon after the British posts
north of Ecoust-St. Quentin were at
tackled and some of them were with.
drawn
In the north British patrols have
penetrated through Pont-de Nieppe
without meeting with opposition. In
this area the Germans apparently
have withdrawn for some distance.
More posts were established by the
British south of the river Lys during
yesterday evening and last night
A heavy rain still is falling over
the whole area and many of the small
er streams have been flooded. In the
FLANDERS lowlands the ground has be-
come almost impassable. There are
no signs OF the weather clearing Luck
ily, in the Somme region the ground
made most difficult by the fall OF
heavy rain has been left behind by the
advancing British.
Allied Armies Nou