Omaha daily bee., 1918-08-26

u Zss|
WATCHING U-Bohr Sn
advance Of the infantry, sweeping
over debris and finishing off enemy
| strong points in the face of perfect
deluge OF fire.
Germans Dread Tanks.
Many tanks returned to their line
with all their paint shot off their steel
sides by machine gun bullets. At some
points the Germans approached the
tanks as soon as they saw them, with
hands high above their heads, fear
fully shouting "kamerad."
When Thiepval ridge fell into Brit
ish hands yesterday, troops pressed
forward at both sides and large num-
bers of Germans were pinched. They
promptly threw aside their helmets
and other equipment and, without
even guards walked toward the Brit
ish rear. In the neighborhood OF
Thiepval, a British detachment dur
ing the early part Of the advance
managed to reach Pys, but found it.
self surrounded on all sides by the
enemy.
An airplane saw the detachment's
plight and dropped a message Stick
it." and soon after heavy British
formations attacked a. this point and
drove off the Germans, relieving their
hard pressed comrades.
Since then Pys has been left we'll
behind Posicres, southeast of Thiep-
val, fell this morning and later Ma
metz was occupied, as we'll as Martin
puich. There was no sign of the
bochc around Martinpuich, although
just to the south bitter fighting con-
tinues. .....
Forty-two Divisions Suffer.
British Front in France, Aug. u.s.
(Havas Agency.)-Forty-two German
divisions have suffered considerable
losses in the present drive, losing 40..
900 soldiers, including several hun
dred officers, in prisoners alone.
Shell Craters Give Trouble.
Everywhere the boche is taking adj
vantage Of shell craters, and these
ready made strong points have in
many cases caused considerable
trouble before being silenced. The
craters west of La Boisselle were es-
pecially troublesome. A large one
there, after holding out for several
hours, fell during the night, while
other smaller holes were silenced at
daybreak.
The worst of this shell crater
country now is being passed at many
points, however, and there is pros
pect that the ground may be more
favorable to the British.
II seems certain that the Germans
have brough up fresh troops but it is
believed they are still some distance
from the rear. 1t is problematical
whether the German high command
intends to throw them into battle
now or to use them to hold the line
to which the enemy is now being
driven.
Among the prisoners taken in to-
days and last nights fight, which pro-
gressed under brilliant moon, are
many Saxons. The officers among
these, as soon as they got to their
cages, stripped themselves and asked
for water with which to bathe.
Alsatians Embrace Captors.
The Alsatians also appeared in the
prisoners cages. Happier men than
these il would be hard to find any
where. They fell on their captors,
embraced them and spoke in French
Of being "1iberated." They pulled
pictures Of their fathers, dressed in
the French uniform of 1870, from
hidden pockets and exhibited them
proudly. They said that all the
Alsatians had been placed in German
regiments.
1T goes hard with US if we are
caught deserting," said one youth.
If 1t is ever found out that anybody
deserts his family is punished, and
even his female relatives are sent
TO dig in the front line and other
trenches"
One Of the prisoners said he was
carrying food in an advanced post
when the British appeared. He
cried we surrender" and he and the
men in the post gave themselves up.
Prisoners taken when Miraumont
fell, after a brave resistance by its
garrison, said they had been fighting
for three days without food.
The high ground east and north
west Of Bray has been captured and
the Australians here are pushing for
ward. One force is now nearing
Longueval. and more Germans may
be penned in. High wood, strong
position in this general locality which
was lined with machine guns, has
been reported captured, probably by
ianking movement and large num-
Der of machine guns have fallen into
British hands here, as we'll as many
at other places. Many thousands OF
machine guns have been taken away
from the Germans during the past
two days.