The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-31
Haig's Forces Cross
 the Hindenburg Line
 South of Bullecourt
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fighting is reported in this locality, as here the British have reached a point only few hundred yards from the Dro- court-Queant switch line, which appar- ently is garrisoned with every man the German high command has been able to lay hands on. They are waiting for what they expect may come in their own lines Of trenches, which are protected by many belts of harbed wire
 But even as they wait, they arc being harassed by heavy fire from the British cannon. which throughout 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 straightening their line and drawing generally closer to the Drocoust-Queant defenses of tho enemy.
 Counter attacks have been latnched on various parts of the battle front, but none of them seem to have gained any thing for the enemy. A majority of them have been completely broken up by the hail of bullets from machine guns and rifles before the enemy reached the British positions.
 ADVANCE IN NORTH
 Tn the north there is apparently lively activity at several places. The British are reported to have made considerable advances. report has just been re- ceived that Bailleul southwest of Ypres is being shelled by the enemy If this is correct it indicates that the Germans have withdrawn altogether from that inn portant town and that the British are either entering Bailleul or will do so later
 It is time something was said of the wonderful work in the Scarpe -Sonme battle of the British artillery, which made possible the victories gained The Germans themselves testify to the terrible efficiency of the massed British cannon which in many cases stood virtually wheel to wheel while pouring death and destruction into the enemy, Knocking the will to fight out of him and blasting a path for the infantry.
 The prisoners all mention the terrible barrages they have withstood and con- ment bitterly upon the thinness of their own counter barrages, because the Ger man heavies are always being dragged rearward to save them from capturs }. The Gern,an artillery apparently has little faith in the ability of the infan- try to hold off The British attacks to- day.
 SLIGHT PROTECTION
 As for days past-the British barrages have fallen all along the front ever moving forward. and they have come down on masses of the enemy lying in whatever shelters they could find, such as shell craters, old and new, and old fallen in trenches which cross and re- cross this ground made barren even of grass by years of war Rarely have the Germans had the protection of dugouts. Even when they have going into them often meant capture. for the British in. fantry and tanks at nearly all times have been. upon them so closely after the barrages lifted that they have not had much time to offer fight, even if they really desired.
 ! The casualties inflicted by the British shells have been larger perhaps than ever before, because the gunners, ad- vancing closely behind the infantry, have had many opportunities on this terrain, which alternately is slightly rolling and flat, to lay on their weapons with open sights and pour rapid fire of steel into the Bocnes. The artillery has materially helped to incerase the number of prison CTS by throwing completely out of gear all the enemy rationing arrangements The empt.er German stomach, the mot. docile is it's owner. Still more has the artillery helped to catch prisoners ny dropping baTrages behind large groups,