The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-19
BRITISH REACH
HIGH GR0UNDBY
NEW OFFENSIVE
Victory Gives Haig's Troops
Valuable Points of
Observation.
ENEMY MORALE FAILS
Germans Had Been Told to
Hold the Defences at
All Costs.
ENEMY MORALE FAILS
BY PERRY ROBINSON.
Special Gable Despatch TO TIE SuS from, TIE
London Times Seruice

cpecid tdote DeSpdfch 10 The Sun rom fke
london Times Serrice.
Copyright. 1915: all rights reserved
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN France,
Sept. 1S.-Early this morning we at
tackled or a front OF sixteen miles be-
low Gouzeaucourt. The troops en-
gagged were chiefly British, but the
Australians took part, and on the ex-
treme right the French pushed for
ward slightly to protect the flank of
the advance.
We had every evidence that the
Germans intended to stand firmly on
all this ground in order to keep their
observation and outpost zone on the
front in this section of the old Hin
denburg line. II was to break this re-
sistance and gain the high ground that
this attack was delivered.
Bad weather until the last few days
hindered our observation. Thus we
knew that the Germans were working
desperately on defensive positions every
where in this area through prisoners
who told persistently OF a determina-
the last few days have we been aware
how much prosress the enemy had made
Scattered Defences Linked.
Scattered defensive positions have
been linked into a continuous and for
midable trench line. This 1t was de-
sirable TO break before another great
Hindenburg system was constructed.
The attack this morning was delivered
al O'Clock. The night had been noisy,
the Germans using large quantities Of
gas shells in the Holnon Wood area.
The ground was badly soaked from a
heavy rain and the morning was misty ;
1t continued thick until the forenoon
Our attack was preceded by lombard
ment and went forward behind a bar
rage. All our men agree that the bar
rage was especially good. and the
wounded. coming back later in the
morning. were enthusiastic over it.
The German artillery reply generally
was feeble. although on that Of the front
where the Australians were attacking it
was heavier. German machine guns
were numerous and clamorous for a
short time until, as our men rushed posi-
ton after position and cleared the
trenches, their fire diminished.
By O'Clock all the first tier OF viii
lagos, Fresnoy, lie Vergier, Templeux-
le-Gerard and Ronssoy. also the wood
north of LIE Vergier were taken. At
Ronssoy We reached a line held by us
previous TO March 2l. We heard every
where that the enemy troops had strict
orders to hold all the ground. All the
prisoners repeated this. but seemed to
lack confidence that the order would be
carried out,
Many OF Enemy Killed.
visited the southern part Of our
front: there undoubtedly the enemy
fought we'll and hard against the
French. The number of prisoners in
that section was small, but the number
OF killed was unusually large.
Details OF our progress in the extreme
north are few. The Australians had a
sharp struggle at lie Vergier. where a
mill had been converted into a formi-
dable position which gave trouble. Be-
tween lie Vergier and Pontou the Ger
mans everywhere were in great strength
and in well fortified positions.
AT Epehy the pattle seems TO have
been fierce and still was in progress in
the village after we had established
ourselves on the railway line east of II.
Besides the formal trench lines there
are minor positions everywhere. AL
though in places the enemy surrendered
freely, the great bulk of the prisoners
came from small patches in Individual
positions.
Our success is important, as 1t sweeps
Continued on Second Pnne