Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-26
British Nearing Old Hindenburg
Line Are Capturing Towns
Long Held by Foe.
ENCIRCLING bAP PAUME.
VITAL GERMAN BASE
Success of Present Blow Will Dis
astrously Affect Whole Ger
man Campaign.
20, 900 HUNS CAPTURED

Associated Press Summary Issued 40 .. m
Extending the Plcardy battlc inc far
to tho north INTO the Artois sertor the
British launched an attack this morning
IN the Scarpc region. east Of Arras This
attack may be considered as ncw devel-
opmcnt of the terrific battle east ~ the
Ancre river. which has boen going on since
last Wednesday
Tho British War Office SAYS good pro
gross is being made in the new atfack,
which was begun IN an arc1 where the
Germans hold strongly fortified hnos
which have boon held by them for he
past two years Immediately south Of
the Cojcul river. the British seemingly
have encountered slight setback for
today report show hey are fighting west
of regions where the battle was SAID to
be gong on yesterday
Bapaume seemingly is bcing slowly
pocketcd by the British Favreuil
mile and 4 half to the northeast, has been
taken by the British who have passed
beyond the village, while farther north
Mory has been left behind by Field Mar
shai Hays men
BRITISH ADvAvctvG ov MARfCouRT
Progress On each side of the Sornme
river il officially report ed from London,
and il j. said he British are advancing
toward Mancourt, four miles northeast
Of Bray. There has been great artillery
activity from Rove 10 the Aisne river
according 70 the French official report,
but there IL no mention Of new infantry
attacks in this vital sector. German sur
prise attacks on the French lines in the
Nosges sector have been repulsed, Paris
says.
As the battle stands today, he British
appear 70 be quite near the old Hinden-
burg line south Of Aras while they are
making an attack directly against it along
the Scarpe river If the attack launched
this morning Is successful 1t may nave
determining effect on the course Of the
battle farthe south, for q German retreat
over wide section might be fore cd. II
also will effect he Flanders sector TO the
north from which the Germans are SAID
10 be retiring
Heavy ram IS falling over the Fsttle
area. it is reported. This VIII tend 70
SLOW down the movement Of troops,
Associated Press Summary p m.
Relentlesslv the British are pushing the
Germans back 70 The HIndcnburg line
Fresh enemy troops thrown into the des-
Derate battles along -; he 80 mile front have
/ failed 10 stop the men ol Field Marshal
/ tiaIg command
BapauIne IS surrounded on three sides,
/ and the fall of this strategic road center
apparently is close 81 hand ON the north
he British are reported to be near the
HIndenburg llne ~ BuileCourr. the scene
! of sangulnarv combats in the spring OF
1917 The enemy has been driven from
the high ground between the Ancre and
Somme and The British are moving east
ward toward Pe-onne.
French pressure continues ail along the
southern wing to scissors. Between the
F.. Disc and the Alsne General Alagnln Is
pressing steadily toward the western
extremity of the Chcmin des Danes.
| nconhrmed reports have been received
lr the American lines along the \esle
thar the enemy IS Withdrawing north ot
I lfl3I river toward liic 5AloLlt-
FOE PUSHED BacA FOUR MILES.
Enemy forces arc putting Zip violent
resistance against the British but tu no
avail. Since last Wednesday hey nave
been driven eastward an average of more
than four miles on he thirty mile front.
+ The greatest Allied gain has been six miles
toward Bapaume one of the most import
ant points in the salient The British
momentum apparently increases ln spite
OF the strong efforts oi The Germans to
stay the oncomlng rush ot tanks. cavalry
and infantry More than II 600 Ger
man prisoners already have been counted
and the enemy losses in prisoners are sand
+ 70 bc IN excess Of the Brush casualties
[ nofiiciaily the number of prisoners Is
placed al 10000
On most of the front the BRUSH have
! pushed the Germans from the high
ground SO necessary for defense. Also
+ the enemy has been forced oar ot much
Of the crater country marking the old
! Somme battlefield of 1915 This has
+ opened up new opportunities for Ihe
tanks and cavalry Allied alrplanes con
tinuously bomb troop concentrations and
strategic ccnters behind the German lines
HAIG ENCIRCuING RAPAUME.
/ lie AFtIlHHRS utLl tNlo nap3Ililt
throughout sunday in heavy lighting
General Byng's troops, however now are
in Avesncs, 4 suburb one half mile 10 the
west. have reached Favreuil two miles
10 the north and are reported III rhhloY
one mile and half southwest The
fall Of Bray, which came after the capture
Of Albert, has enabled the British to push
on eastward and they are reported in
suzanne two miles 10 the east. and at the
edge Of the swamp country which lines
the Sommc to close to Peronne
Ii the enemy has counted on gaining
the Hindenburg line and there finding
secure positions from which to bear of
allied attacks, his plans may be upset
by the rapidity with which the British
have progressed toward BulIecourt Once
inside the Hindenburg defenses around
Rullecout, the British have q gooc
path toward Cambria
GEN. MANGIN FORCES FOE TO RETREAT.
North from scissors, past Noyon L