New-York tribune., 1918-09-29
Huns Throzun Into
Confusion, BY Yank
And British Attack

i / l ) HEADQj AK klEkS in
TRANCE, Sept 2S Field Marshal
iaig'S forces to-day captured the town
of Arleux, FIVE miles southeast of Douai.
Enemy counter attacks were not on
large scale at any time, although
various attempts to rally and react
were made during the day. The
heaviest of these efforts appears to
have been delivered against the Ameri-
cans (west of lie Catelet. who twice
withstood stiff assaults upon the posi-
tions they had occupied
Prisoners report that there was very
great confusion behind the German
lines. The reserves were getting hope
lessly scattered and mixed up with
various other units.
Fires Behind Lines
British airmen observed a continu
Gus stream Of transport going eastward
and various explosions and tires behind
the German front were noted. 1t was
impossible, however, to tell how far
-hese may have been caused by the
British artillery.
Last night great masses of British
troops were resting IN the spacious
shelters Of the Hindenburg system
pretty secure against enemy bombing
attacks and the comparatively few long
range shells Most of the dugouts had
been cleaned out.
1t was quite clear that the Germans
had made up their minds that the Brit
ish not only meant to attack their
much Wanted Siegfried line, but that
Haig's men would carry it when they
did attack
Americans Surprise Foe
The appearance of American infantry
IN the southern part of the battlefield
koo-1 N ,lfxvplrOmp surprise
TO the Germans, who doubtless hardly
expected to encounter any of these
overseas troops so far from the Woevre.
The British captures of guns are
likely TO make a consid derabie showing,
notwlth standing the tact that the en-
envy has been withdrawing his artll-
lerv without much regard for the pro
lection OF his infantry. Apparently
She officers in charge of the German
batteries did not always remember to
look over their shoulders fronP time to
time to see what was behind them.
British Success Growing
The results of yesterdays battle
we're seen to-day to be greater than
they appeared last night, both in ma
terial and tactical achievements. This
has seemed to be characteristic of the
recent British successes.
From the moment when the front
line advanced at dawn yesterday the
great forward movement began to eX-
tend miles in depth. The irresistible
momentum of the well-ordered masses
streaming along the roads seemed to
carry a pressure which the Germans
could not hope to stem, once their line
was preached.
1t was not surprising, therefore. to
hear that all the objectives Of the day
we're obtained, which meant that the
British had gone forward to an ex
treme depth Of about five miles through
a most formidable and intricate net
work of defences. SO remarkable was
the British progress that not only field
batteries but heavy 60-pounders were
brought up to the western fringe OF
Bourbon Wood and were raking 1t be
fore the enemy had completed the with
drawal of his rear guard from the east
ern edge.
Converging tactics worked ad-
mirably, and in several places strong
bodies Of Germans were reported
facing the wrong way" which meant
that the British had worked around be
hind them unnoticed.
Tanks Clean Out Tickets
Tanks played a very useful part in
cleaning out the machine gun infested
thickets OF Quarry Wood and in put
ting down an attempt at street fighting
amid the ruins of Bourbon village. In
the region of Graincourt, west of Cam
brai, the Hindenburg line was most
heavily held.
The Canadians, who were first to
cross the Canal du Nord between
Moeuvres and Marcoing, had expected
very heavy fighting, and were much
disgusted at meeting only slight re-
sistance as thew sVarmed from the
east to west bank across the canal,
which in some places is sixty feet deep
The Germans bolted so fast that they
were out of sight before an effective
rife fire could be opened upon them.