New-York tribune., 1918-08-27
Heavy Turning
Attack Seen in
NewHaig Blow
Battle Rages Desperately
Along Entire Front
East of Arras
By Arthur S. Draper
Copyright. 1918. by The Tribune Association New
YOri 'TNbunol
lSpeciaL Cable TO The Ti1btlafl

York ribunel
Especial Cable to The T,ibu,e)
LONDON, Aug. 26.-Haig attacked
east of Arras this morning, and his
battlefront is now extended to include
the sector where the Canadians fought
so galantly on Easter, 1917. Whether
the operation was intended TO turn the
Hindenburg line or simply to harass
the enemy, the meaning of his precipi
tate Withdrawal from the Somme bat
tlcfield will be made clearer within the
next twenty four hours. The indica-
tions now are that Haig has made a
heavy turning attack
tampoux and Neuville Ntasse are
the wings of the front which units of
/ BynS's third army attacked before day
light to-day. The front measures four
miles. in few hours an average ad
vance Of two miles was reported. Cue
mappe and Wancourt were taken with
little difficulty. but a stubborn resist
ance was met by the British in the
ne ghborhood of Henin Hill.
Along the whole of the fighting front
which. by the way, is the greatest
since the war bcgan-the desperate
battle ragca. though heavy rains are
deluging the country and interfering
! with the aerial operations.
Counter Attacks Launched
Two fairly powerful counter attacks
were launched by the Germans Sunday
night north and south of Bapaume. but
the British held firm and returned to
the attack Immediately. Mory Favre
viii which is directly north of Ba
paumc. was captured and the British
reached the outskirts Of the town
tletield of 1916 progress was slower.
/ although useful advance was made in
the direction of Gueudccourt. South
Of the Somme little change was re-
ported by the British, but the British
took Les Roye.
Bapaume and Royc are now being
encircled, and their evacuation is but
a matter Of a short time. Although
greater popular interest centres about
! the fate of these towns the soldiers
are concentrating their attention on
! Byng's drive eastward to the Hinden-
burg line. The old switch line of Dro-
vourt Queant remains and for the last
two weeks the enemy has been work
ing furiously to reconstruct and re-
pair it and other defensive positions
to the south, forming the Hindenburg
line, which he never expected to use
again when he rushed over it last
March.
Ludendorff OF Balance
Haig has got Ludendorf off his bal
ance and he is driving him back faster
than the German general intended to
&c. Ludendorff has been lucky to es-
cape harder trouncing, but his pun
ishment is not yet over.
Whether Ludendortf can make a sue
cessful stand at his old positions with
fIaig close on his heels is the most
important question TO be decided in the
present battle What happens around
Chersy. Crosiles and Bullecourt are
much more vital than the developme nts
around Bapaume and Royc, neither Of
which is much value to the Allies.
There arc several explanations Of the
fact that the British casualties scarcely
exceed the number of prisoners taken
In the first place. the tanks saved the
lives Of thousands of nfantrymen. and
secondly, the German artillery has beer
exceedingly weak, as LudendorH is
hurrying il back to prevent capture
Thirdly, the German defenders are
comparatively few in number. consist
ing chiefly of machine gunners, the
major part Of the Somme army moving
eastward when Haig's attacks wer.
launched.