Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-09-19
Important Gains
(Continued from Face One)

and from their new positions were look
ing down on the iiindenburg line in the
valley to the east.
That hard fighting would be encoun-
tered in this sector was foregone con-
clusion The main enemy opposition
came from machine guns and artillery.
The counter barrage which the Gerrna ms
sent over in reply TO the British bonn
bardment was much more severe than
the enemy had been able to provide in
the recent fighting and as an additional
new feature the Germans maintained a
heavy barrage over the back areas with
high velocity guns which had been con-
centrated for the purpose. The Smelling
OF the back areas during an attack is
to be expected. but barrage has sell
dom been attempted. and then without
success. The German infantry surTen-
dered quite freely in places. In fact in
the center of the attack where the Aus
tralians were working. considerable
number OF gray coats deliberately
charged through tn British barrage to
give themselves UP. Today's operations
cannot be considered as 4 major oper-
alton as compared with recent battles.
The detectives sought. however. were
important both from the defensive and
offensive standpoints.
The assault began at dawn. Enfort-
O'Clock and when the British went over
the top the ground was already Shiny
and hard'to negotiate. especially where
the ridges were reached and the men
had to charge up them. Tanks accom-
panies the troops and rendered invalu-
able service in the early stages of the
conflict. which faxed warmHfrom the
start. The British preliminary hom-
bardment was brief and vas followed
by the customary barrage for the pro-
, lection of the advancing infantry. The
Germans Immediately replied with a
vicious faAfrom large numbers of guns
concentrssM behind the ST. Quentin ca
nal. Airplane observation was virtual
Fly impossible during the first hours OF
the lighting from either side. so that the
gunrers were shooting by map and
were therefore greatly handicapped
On the north Peziere and a strongly
fortified sugar factor to the north were
taken BY storm by some hard fighting.
Epehy proved a tough nut to- crack
Here the famous Alpine corps had
been brought up andsthe German array
boasts no better troops than these.
1t was futile to attempt frontal at
tack against this .lace, which was fair.
| ly bristling with machine guns. The
British accordingly worked sbout it t.
the north and south and squeezed it out
| Ronssoy was carried by storm and a
hundred prisoners were cleaned from
/ the surviving garrison. In The center
I the Australians had to fight for every
\ irch Of ground they took. hut they
pushed steadily forward unit. they
I, rea ched the crest Of the ridge BY $50
o'clock the Australians had taken to.
/ tai OF 500 prisoners. Most of these were
Bavarians and men of the first German
! reserve division and they appeared tc
| be poor class of men as they came
| Struggling back disconsolately through
! the driZZling rain. One of the hottest
engagements took place Just south Of
+ Leverguier. where the Germans had
! fortified themselves in a mill. This
! stronghold was surrounded and 80 OF
| the garrison were forced to surrender.