The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-19
Pounds Enemy's Resisting
Points With Artillery to
Save Man Power.
FRESH GERMANsFIGHTING
Prisoners Taken by British
Since Aug. 8 Total $4,000;
With 482 Officers.
BY PERRY ROBINSON.

Losdoa Times serUice.
coSvrtsAt ISIS: all SisAn ,sssrved
WITH TINE BRITISH ARMY IN FNANcE,
Aug. 1s.--The week ended without
any large infantry movements. though
marked by intense artillery battles. es-
pectally north of the Somme area, at
Etinehem and Bray and at the extreme
right Of the British front near Roye
Whether the enemy 10 trying to make
our advance costly or has something
elise In mind ! DO not pretend to know.
At any rate We have driven into some
of his strong positions at Damery. Par
viliers Wood. Fresoy ma Goyescourt
II 1t Is the German idea to make us at
tack at positions calculated to cause US
loss he has been greatly disappointed.
Instead Of throwing infantry against
these places we have stood back and
pounded them with artillery.
Goyescourt and Fresnoy have been
veritable storm centresSswith our shHffs
falling into them constantly. In the
meantime the French have pressed closer
to Roye, and last evening were reported
to be within 500 yards Of the station In
the northwestern part of the town.
British Took $4,000 Germans.
Just above there the Germans put In
crack Alpine corps that had been
rested since May 8. This corps appar-
part or all OF the Scventy-ninth. We
have already taken prisoners from three
regiments Of the corps. Gen. Rawlin-
sons total capture OF prisoners since
August 8 now totals $4,000, including
482 officers.
Above there We are in contact with
the enemy east Of Chauvette and
Fransart, which was taken by the Cana
dams yesterday. and at Hallu and
Lihons There Ia no reason why We
should hurry. as time Is bigger factor
with the enemy than with US. Having
a superiority In guns on this front 1t Is
more economical to us and more costly
to him to pound his resisting points to
pieces with artillery than to attack them
with infantry.
After Chipilly was lost 1t was un-
doubtedly the intention of the Germans
to hold tho line Of Etinehem- Msaults
road. but after sharp fighting we forced
them back from the high ground at the
southern end. The German retirement
itoI III VI <AiUcIt - u hlIlc UcyoIN OuT
ken just at present. and whether 1t in
dicates a larger retirement or not we do
not know. They seem disposed to hold
the line Immediately east of Puissieux
and running thence to BucQuoy. Mean
while they are Smelling other vacated
positions, not always waiting for their
own mon to get out, according to
prisoners.
Germans Despondent.
Most Of the prisoners taken recently.
officers and mon alike. are dsspondent
over the war situation. They recognize
the failure Of the German offensive and
also the failure Of the subna rines. They
are confident. however. that\ whatever
tie allied strength Germany cannot be
crushed in tho field. There Is a great
longing among them that the war be
ended by negotiation.
Illustrating the lack of war en-
thusiasm among the Germans Is story
told by some men taken in the Msteren
region. These men said the German
commanders recently were eager to OBJ
tain information regarding certain Brit
ish regiments facing them and called for
volunteers to 20 through the lines. TIE
reward offered was $50 marks In money,
fourteen days leave and two Iron
Crosses. Despite this not a man volun-
teered.
That the Germans are nervous on the
sector is shown by the feverish
activity back Of their lines. Their air
planes are constantly over our lines. In
cidentally the Germans are now using
parachutes with which to escape from
airplanes. The other day two Foleksr
machines were shot down by our men
and the German fiiers escaped by using
parachutes. One Of these did not open
until the aviator had dropped 1000 feet.
They seem to work on the principle Of
opening a. the machine falls, auto
matically pulling the pilot out Of his
seat
Animals Wear Gas Masks.
Among other devices now used by the
enemy are gas masks for dogs, pigeons
and horses. Evidence continues to &C
cumulate Of the vast damage which ia
being done by our bombing planes In
documents captured We have learned of
various instances Of direct hits by our
bombers. We also learn that these
bombers have caused great loss of life
back Of the German lines by hitting
shelters and trains. One bomb hit Q
mall train. setting II on fire and destroy
ing a vast quantity OF valuable mail.
From these documents also we have
gained specific evidence Of the brutal
treatment accorded Belgian women by
German soldiers.