Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-04
HEADQUARTERS STORY
OF BRITISH ADVANCES
Enemy Pressed So Hard He Has
~ Been Unable to Complete
His DcfCrsc.
PUSHING ON TOWARD CAMBRIA
German Officer Tells of Terrible
Losses Incurred by His Division.
Prise ny the Thousands Taken
.ncmy Hurrying to New Positions
LRN Associated rrcss-

!. WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
!, FRANCE, September 3.--In heavy fight
/" ing last night beyond the Drocourt-
Queant line the British have made fur
rlthcr progress on front OF $4,000
i yards.
: The villages OF Saudemont and Re
court. more than mile and a half be-
{. yond Dury, the capture OF which was
; announced last night. are reported to
have been taken to-day.
Z north OF Dury, fell late yesterday at
about the same time the British further
south south were capturing vtllcrs-le-Gaent;,
: after most bitter hshtinG.
The enemy was in force at the last
reports, to the southwest and 70 tho
was pouring "A heavy machine gun fire
at the British, who were returning the
y fire and gaining ground at the same
{ On the Sommc battle field the British
are driving at a pace generally fast in
: the direction OF the Canal du Nord.
trenches here, however, have only been
g half dug, ii is rumored.
NEW DEFENsES IN
HALF-COMPLETED CONDITION
The Germans, it seems to he cN-
pectcd, will offer determined resistance
along this line as they now doing
in front Of IT, and then retire back of
the canal il necessary. With their
lines at the canal in such an en-
bryonic state. however. little protec-
ton will be afforded the enemy should
he be forced to take refuge behind
them
On the northern half OF the Dro-
court-Queant battle front there were
some 5000 prisoners in the cages last
night Thousands more had been taken
TO the hospitals wounded. while prob
!, ably more than 1000 additional cap
lures have been effected on the south
crn half OF the front.
In one place along the line OF battle
y eight German diviSions--or rather four
comparatively fresh divisions and the
remnants of four other divisions-wcre
lighting against three British divisions.
An officer from one OF these enemy
divisions. which was the Second Guards
reserve. said. however, that his divi-
sion had been in the nEhting for more
would number less than 1000 men. In
his battalion only himself and twenty
four Of his men had survived, he de-
losses had been heavier than any they
had previously suffered.
:, BRITISH PRESS FAR
BEYOND BEUGNY VILLAGE
!" In their push northcastward along
'"the Bapaumc- Cambrai road, the British
hive reached BauEny. Unofficial adj
vices from London this morning re-
TO have pushed some three and one
half miles beyond this point The town
of Villers-au-Flos, south of Bapaume,
was in British hands early last evening
Sailly~Saiiliscl the British pushed on
across the Rapaume-P eronne road ana
in the fghting just TO the north were
we'll on their way toward RocquiEny.
The Germans were in heavy force in
the region Of Moreuil. and hard fighting
was in progress there.
- There is every sign that the enemy is
= hurryinG his retirement on this part
= OF the British front to get behind what
is left OF his defensive line. The new
line OF defense he expected to take up
behind the Canal du Nord is not con-
sidered very strong. and is too near
Douai and Cambrai to be comforta BILE
to the enemy
: The determined German resistance at
1.-The crossroads north of NillerS-lcs-
Cagnicourt was overcome by the Brit
, ish this morning, and HaiGs men are
now showing forward in the direction
OF Cambria
- Tho British to-day pushed forward
well to the east of Morcuil. and the
''Australans made steady progress TO
the east OF Peronnc.
- British troops to-day advanced we'll
Ito the east of rc:onnc, and are maxi
ling steady progress.
<, A strong British force is driving for
ward on the northern reaches of the
HindcnburS line. The British are well
Inside the Drocourt -Queant line.
SO far as learned. no organized
q counterattar hayc been developed by
the Germans. but 'on the extreme Brit
ish left dettr!nincd opposition is de-
veloping.