The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1918-09-06
TANKS CRUSHED FOE
In FLIGHT
STREETS OF DURY CARPETED with
DEAD ENEMY UNNERVED BY
SMELLING.

Sept 2.--As tine British progressed
all along tha famous HindenDurE Line
yesterday rocket after rocket FAM
ingly aScended through the battle
smoke from German positions as the
hard-pressed enemy first here and
then there called for assistance from
those in the rear. The barrage had
completely unnerved the Germans
The British then fought their way
through line after line, lighting in
many cases hand to hand. Bayonets
were used freely.
The wood north Of Queant was
found to be full Of Germans with ma
chine guns. The fighting there was
of the very hardest nature until the
British cleared the wood Tanks
again did heroic service. Where
shells had failed to break through
tHe wire tanks rolled it Out flat and
charged down into the masses of Ger
mans. Those who did not fall before
the guns were crushed, together with
their machine guns.
l The streets of Dury were carpeted
with German dead. Here the British
captured the town Mayor and. among
other prisoners taken nearby, were
several battalion commanders.
Mount Dury was stOrmed soon after
ward, but 1T was only taken after a
terrific struggle.
British wounded returning from
the fighting here said that from the
top of the mount they could see Ger
mans coming up i'm the east in mass
eS. also from the mount there could
To- seen German artillery retiring
It was the Canadians who took
Dury and the mount, Although fac
\ i'm a heavy fire, they had only "a
small fraction OF the casualties they
! inflicted on the foe All sorts Of
troops have been captured Elements
of six German divisions, fresh and
tired. have been identified by troops
On IA front of 1000 yards Good troops
and the SWeepingS of the German
Army are lighting here One prison
er taken was IA Red Cross man until
he was discharged a few months ago
because OF an incurable illness and a.
mutiliated hand He had been taken
back into the army as an infantry
man.
NJ At this writing counter-attacks by
W Htha Germans are expected and they
# #nrnhaDly will ~ oH most viOlaM+
nature The British, however, are
prepared To- deal with them Every
where the, British have attacked i'm
the woods they have met with a hail
of bullets, and the resistance they
met within these localities increased
the deeper they went. Tn the first of
such positions attacked the Germans
ran after offering short resistance.
HnTWnWMT hN @Nn +TvRnn Mn I%
southeast OF Cagnicourt were reached
the resistance stiffened materially
: Germans were found all over the
place blazing away with machine
guns from nests and holes scraped in
the ground, protected by barbed wire
In all the villages there was hand-to-
hand fighting from building to build
ing and from ruin I'D ruin
The German prisoners were for the
most part a dirty, hungry, detected,
lot; the officers asked for food az.
soon as they reached the cages.
Many prisoners said they were con-,
vinced that the war would be over
this year.
Does that mean the Germans have
lostT" asked an officer of one large
group The members of tine group
replied that they did not care whether
the Allies won or not All they and
their comrades wanted was peace.
They all spoke of the great numbers
Of their comrades killed, and those
from the German rear were especial
ly impressed by the vast piles 6f
German dead lying On the ground
where thu British had passed.
Both the Canadian and English
troops report that the Germans in
many places fought to the finish and
died at their guns, firing until they
were killed They had orders to hold
on until the last, FOR the German
commanders realize the seriousness
of their position with their boasted
Wotan line pierced and tlle British
still driving on behind iii.
If the British maintain their gains
In the face OF the expected German
counter attacks, the launching of
which may still further increase the
violence of the struggle, the Hinden-
burg line will be in greater danger.
In the southern battle area the
British again continued their advance
between Peronne and Bapume ami
there has been heavy fighting all
along the line. East of Peronne and
Mont st. Quentin more ground has
been gained. There has been hard
fighting in the southern zone. but no.
where has it approached in intensity
that at Brocourt.
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