Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-09-20
British Occupy II Miles
More of Hindenburq Line

LONDON, Sept 19.--The British ad-
vance between Cambria and St Quentin
paused yesterday afternoon and even
ing only long enough to smash a series
Of heavy German counter attacks. then
swept forward again on wide front,
capturing about II miles of the outPosts
Of the f. ndenburg line.
The German counter attacks began
about p. m. on an eight-mile front
between Gouzeaucourt and Thescault,
following a terrific bombardment. They
were smothered by the British fire.
Field Marshal Haig reported today. A
few elements entered the. British
trenches but were anihilated by coun-
ter attacks.
The British drive was resumed
shortly before midnight. Australian
troops dashed forward aud occupied vir-
tually the whole outposts of the Hin
denburg line from Pontruet nOrthward to
Gouzeaucourt.
Many prisoners and a number of ma
chine guns were taken by them.
The town of Lempire was captured,
as was Gauchie wood (Lempire is four
miles directly west of lie Catelet.)
Yesterday afternoon a violent bonn
bardment by a number of guns was
opened by the enemy on the northern
portion of the battle front between
Gouzeaucourt and the Arras-Cambrai
road Ia front of about eleven miles,"
the statement said
Telephone communication with our
divisions in the line was rapidly cut
by the intensity of the hostile fire.
AT 5 p m. German infantry attacked
in strength on a wide front from
Trescault (three miles north of Gouzeau-
COURT northward. At all points they
were completely repulsed, with great
loss, by the guards and the Third and
Thirty-seventh divisions
AT Gauche wood repeated enemy at
taclSs were made yesterday afternoon
and evening. In each case they were re-
pulsed
Another strong attack shortly after
ward, north of Moeuvres, was also
driven off with heavy German losses
In certain localities bodies of the enemy
succeeded in reaching and entering our
trenches, where they were overwhelmed
by counter attacks. In all such loca-
lions our line was re-established. Many
prisoners were taken Great numbers
of German dead are lying before our
positions on the whole front of the
enmy's attacks"
"a. successful local operation carried
out yesterday afternoon improved our
positions south and east of Ploegsteert"
South of Gouzeaucourt, the opera
lions of the fourth British army con-
tinued successfully yesterday evening
and last night English troops pro-
crossed north of Pontruet (four miles
north and west of st. Quentin), reach
ing the outposts of Hindenburg line In
this sector.
"9o the left of the fourth army an
Australian division renewed its attack
at IL D. m. and carried the outpost posi-
lions of the Hindenburg line after
heavy fighting. Many prisoners and
number of machine guns were taken.
I'm the successful operation, this d.
vision and the first Australian division
now hold the outpost positions of the
Hindenburg line on the whole or their
respective fronts"
'sThere was severe fighting east of
Ronssoy (thre and a half miles west OF
LeCatelet), and Epehy 1.-TWO miles north
east of Ronssoy) We are in possess
sion of Lempire (adjoining Ronssoy on
the northeast).
1--WE have beaten off determined coun-
ter attacks in the Villers-Guislain sector
"a mile and a half southeast of Gouzea-
court. The Seventeenth division, which
in Yesterdays advance, took several hun
dred prisoners, recaptured Gauche wood
Gust west of Villers-Guislain), which
the enemy had regained by counter
attack Later in the afternoon a strong
attack near Villers-Guislain was
with heavy losses"