New-York tribune., 1918-08-25
British Inflict
Terrible Loss
On nFleeing! 9! oe
Germans Thrown Into Con-
fusion After Hard Fight
ing at 1'hiepval
(By The Associated Press

WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE, Aug. "a Il D. m.).-Field
Marshal Haig's fighting armies achieved
further victories to-day. They delv-
cred blow after blow to the staggering
enemy, who in some places, such as
the Thiepval salient, was reported to
be in state of great confusion.
Thiepval, mighty position atop
comparatively high hill from which the
surrounding country for miles is under
observation, has been occupied by the
British forces, and the British line has
been Strengthened between Grandcourt,
north of Thepval, and La Boiselle, to
the south. There has been extraordi-
narily hard fighting in this locality
Nfiraumont Surrounded
Miraumont, that Boche position
which has held out for days, in the
centre of the battlefront, is gradually
being surrounded on all sides. The
town is choked with German dead, and
many living Germans may be captured
there shortly.
In the advance on Bapaume the vii
lage of Avesncs- lez- Bapaume, just at
the edge of the larger town, has been
reached. 1t seems certain that Ba-
paume will fall at an early daae but
more heavy fighting is expected here.
British troops have advanced to point
north of Mory, and have also entered
Croislles, which is some miles east Of
the Arras -Bapaume Road, and prob
ably marks the peak of the advance
eastward in the northern battle zone.
There has also been fighting north of
the River Scarpe to-day, and the Brit
ish here have made progress. pene-
trating the old German front line for
more than 500 yards. The British at
tackled Givenchy and recovered the old
front line, from which they retired dur
ing an attack last evening.
Fight for Every Yard
While Field Marshal Haig's men
pressed forward with mighty strides
on the main battlefront to day they had
to fight for every yard of ground. Con-
siderable numbers of guns and prison
ers have been captured all along the
line. ard the British have again in
hicted the heaviest possible casualties
on the enemy The ground over which
the battle has been fought was invari
ably Uttered with dead Germans.
Still fighting a losing battle, the
Germans are unquestionably becoming
disorganzed and ratified. Officers who
have been taken prisoner have men
toned recent reverses ard especially
the defeat which is now being suffered
and said that Germany was willing to
give anything for peace
These statements are of value only
as showing how the German army is
coming to look upon the war now going
against them.
Dozen Left in a Company
New German divisions continue to
arrive in the zone, only to be stood up
before the advancing British and
tiOWCu NONll WuIlc lHey nave DeCn
able in measure to check the Allies,
they have been unable to stay their
continuous forward movement.
There are stories of less than
dozen men being left in some of the
German companies which had partici-
pated in the recent fighting. Soldier
prisoners captured to-day expressed
themselves generally as having lost
faith in the higher command, while
non commissioned officers attributed
the defeats to the inefficiencies Of the
German air service and, more espe-
clally. to the presence Of many un-
trained recruits in the older divisions.
Some are said to have deserted while
on the way to the front to participate
in this battle.
Several thousand German prisoners
have passed through the cages behind
General Byng's Third Army day No
effort to count the guns captured has
been made up to this time.
large number of cannon. including
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