Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-08-31
BRITISH BLOWS
Continued from Pass ons)

.
between LIE Transloy and Bapaume.
The Germans hold the major portion
of this village for the moment. but
they seem destined to be thrown out
from It. A bitter struggle is also il:
progress al Marvel. southwest OF LIE
Transloy. The fighting appears to
have reached a hand -to-hand char
acter and the Germans are said to
have suffered from the British bay
Cnets.
Other towns in this immediate negn-
| borhood fell this morning or during last
| night. From this locality the line Of
battle swings wide around Bapaume and
there has been more heavy fighting here.
Bancourt, east of Bapaume, fell after
being stormed.
Astride the road to Cambria from Pc
rome the British crashed into the Ger
mans and smothered their resistance
sometimes. again at the point Of bayc.
net. Fremicourt seems to have been
taken and the British to have driven
eastward North OF here vaulx vrau-
court. which contained a large enemy
garrison that offered the strongest re-
sistance with machine guns. apparently
has fallen in it's entirety to the British.
Ecouit-St. Mein and Longatte in its
suburbs again are reported to have been
captured by the British.
Here the Germans delivered a power
full counter-attack and the British with.
drew in the face of it. Artillery was
turned into the trap the Germans had
made for themselves and after 1t had
finished the British moved back again
and mopped up what remained of the
Germans.
Bullecourt is well in British hands. as
apparently also is Hendecourt. Rein
c-'rt and Cagnicourt seem to be in the
possession of Field Marshal Haig's men.
Heavy fighting is reported in this local
ity, as here the British have reached
point only a few hundred yards from the
Drocourt- Queant switch line. which ap-
parently is garrisoned with every man
the German high command has been
able to lay hands on. They are wait
ing for what they expect may come IN
their five lines Of trenches. which are
protected with many belts OF barbe1
wire But they are being harassed by
heavy fire from the British cannon.
which throughout this zone Of the battle
are laundering away as hard as their
gunners can force them. From here
northward across the Arras-Cambrai
road and along the river Scarpe the
British are pushing forward. gaining
more ground, Strengthening their line
and drawing very close to the Drocourt-
Queant defenses Of the enemy.
Counter attacks have been
launched on various parts Of the
battle front but none of them seems
to have gained anything for the en-
envy. A majority of them have been
completely broken up by the hail Of
bullets from machine guns and rifles
before the enemy reached the Brit
ISL positions. In the north there ap-
parcntly is lively activity at several
places. The British are reported to
have made considerable advances.
1t is time something was said OF
the wonderful work in the Scarpe-
SCmme battle of the British artillery.
vhi-h made possible the victories
gained. The Germans themselves
testify to the terrible efficiency of the
n; ssed British canon. which In
MANY cases stood virtually wheel to
w.:eeI while pouring death and des-
tructlon into the enemy, knocking the
W.: to fight out of him and blasting
a path for the infantry.
The prisoners all mention the ter
rife barrages they have withstood !
aud comment bitterly upon the thin ,
ness Of their own counter barrages j
because the German heavies are al
ways being dragged rearward to SAGE
them from capture. The artillery
las materially helped to incgease the
number of prisoners by throwing
completely out of gear the enemy
rationing arrangements. The emp
tier German stomach. the more do
cite is owner. Still more has the
artillery helped to catch prisoners by
dropping barra-es behind large
grorIs cutting off their retreat.