The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-26

i
tians had been placed In German regi-
msnts. -. ~-e
women A. Trench DiGGers.
ut goes hard with US H.. we are
cahght deserving" said one youth. IF
II j. ever found out that anybody de-
serts his family is punished. and even
his femalA relatives are sent to dig In
the front line ada othef trenches
One of these prisoners said he was
carrying food to an advanced post when
the British appeared. He cried. We
surrender" and he and the men In the
post gave themselves up.
Prisoners taken when Miraumont fell
after a brave resistance by Its garrison
said they had been fighting for three
days without food.
British Occupy sspisnies.
sapienies Is completely in British
hands after hard fighting. At last re-
ports a local battle within the big battle
was being fought at Mory and its en-
virons, where the lines run through the
town. ~-
81. Leger was captured and left far
behind. After having once been re-
ported in Croisilles.- the British with
drew to the outskirts The Germans
counter attacked heavily and the British
retired to the edge Of the town and
poured shells into the place while press
ing forward on the sides
This practice OF Withdrawing from
any place where heavy counter attacks
are being delivered, then Smelling the
area and driving past to the north and
south. eventually getting into a posi-
ton somewhere near the rear, has
given wonderful results. not only In
saving British troops eut in netting
large numbers Of German prisoners or
in killing Germans.
At Melville -vitasse and almost up to
the Scarpe the line. at last reports re-
ceived at headquarters. ran through the
outskirts of the village and severe
hghting was In progress there.
Armored Cars as scouts.
The BapaumeiPeronne road was at
tackled by British armored cars. which
during the past twenty-four hours have
been performing wonderful service.
scouting far ahead Of the infantry. Some
Of them have dashed through the coun-
try. overtaking retreating enemy trans
port columns and inficting terrific dam
age upon them and bodies of troops with
their machine guns.
Cooperating with the armored cars
action. some of them rolling into towns
In advance of the infantry, sweeping
over the debris and finishing of enemy
strong points in the face OF a perfect
deluge Of FIRE:
Many tanks have returned to their
lines with all the paint shot OF their
steel sides by machine gun bullets At
some points the Germans approached the
tanks soon as they saw them with
hands high above their heads, fearfully
shouting, "Kameradr'
Are Eager to surren der.
When Thiepval Ridge fell into British
hands yesterday the troops pressed for
ward at both sides and large number
Of Germans were pinched They promptly
threw away their helmets and other
equipment. and without even guards
walked toward the British rear
In the neighborhood OF Thiepral a
British detac 4meat, during the early part
Of the advance managed to-reach Pys,
but soon found itself surrounded on all
sioes by the enemy.
An airplane saw the detachment
pf>gfIt and dropped a message. stick
it, and soon after heavy British forma-
ITEMS attacked at this point and drove
Of the Germans. relieving their hard
pressed comrades.
Since then Pys has been left well be-
hind. Pozieres. southeast of Thiepval
fell this morning. and later Mametz was
occupied. as well as Martinpuich. There
were no signs OF the Boche around Mar
tinpuich, although just to the south bit
ter fighting continues.
The high ground east northeast OF
Bray has been captured and the Aus
tralians here are pushing forward. One
force is now nearing Longueval and
more Germans may be penned up High
wood, strong position in this general
locality. which was lined with machine
guns, has been reported captured, prob
ably BY a fanking movement. and a
large number Of machine guns have
fallen into British hands here. as we'll
as many at other places. Many thou
sands of machine guns have been taken
away from the Germans during the
past two days.
On Saturday the British stormed no
fewer than fifteen important strong
holds. A semi-ofiicial statement from
Paris emphasizes that the whole in
terest Saturday centred on the British
front. where gains of ground OF the
most important tactical value had been
achieved. especially in the direction Of
Bapaume.
Americans Are Reinforced,
The significant part of the success is
that the Americans west Of Fismes and
south of the Vesle have been lately
assigned TO the task of hammering the
German communications within the
north Of the Aisne district. They have
been steadily reinforced all the time.
and II their present movement develops
II Is likely to have serious consequences
for the Germans. whom Gems. Mangin
and Humbert are fanking While
Ludendorff deems It prudent to retire
from this region. his decision TO with
by the Americans.
launched by the Germans against the
French between the Disc and the A!lette
rivers, north of Scissors, but despite
these the French advanced their lines
east Of Bagneux and west OF Crecy -au-
Mont between the Ailette and the Aisne
The Germans have the advantage here
of a terrain admirably adapted to de-
fence, but Notwithstanding this the
French are pushing ahead steadily. In
this section also the Germans have been
reinforced by Austrians. Four hundred
additional prisoners were taken by the
French.
Austrian troops have been captured
also by French patrols further to the
east. in the Woevre region southeast OF
Verdun, which until recently was held
by American forces.