The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-04
LONG GERMAN
FRONT NOW IN
STATE0F FLUX
British Going Deeper Into
Hole Pierced in DrOcOurt-
Queant Line.
TOOK STRONG POSITION
TOOK STRONG POSITION
Deliberate Destruction of
Beautiful Bailleul by Foe
Enrages Allied Troops.
ny PERRY ROBINSON.

London Times Serrice.
Copyright. 1918: all rights yeserred
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE,
Sept. 3 (5 p. M).-The whole German
front opposite the British army, from
the Somme to Peronne to Messines
Ridge, is in a state Of fiux. 1t is diff
cult to say that the enemy is holding
firmly anywhere. though everywhere
the Germans are doing their best to
cover the retreat with rear guard ma
chine gun actions. On the whole front
the most interesting point is south of
the Scarpe River, where we are break
ing farther and farther through the
Drocourt- Queant line.
How real Is the defeat suffered here
by the Germans is best shown by the
fact that We took 10000 prisoners yes
terday. That was on narrow front
Of 10000 yards. which is evidence
enough that the ground was strongly
held, but here these troops were def
initely put to hold what the Germans
recognized as one of the strongest and
most complicated defensive positions
devised since trench warfare was in
vented. In a few hours We had shat
tered all the defences and captured a
great number of prisoners. It will be
found that there were more than TO-
900.
This morning ! saw a crowd OF 1000
prisoners massed in the first army cage.
Another column OF 1900 arrived in a
marching column of tours. like blue
gray snake. The officers were drafted
into special compartments and 1t was
delight to see Thomas Atkins check
Off the Prussian officers like ~ many
sacks Of coal.
Many Prisoners Unfit.
Many prisoners were middle aged.
Many were obviously unfit for front
line duty. Five out of six had their
shoulder straps cut Off TO prevent iden-
tificatlon, and a number wore iron
crosses. Newcomers to the cages were
greeted with shouts OF laughter and
welcome by their previously captured
comrades. Those inside the cages were
mostly eating beef and biscuits, and the
new arrivals, seeing them at this.
cheered Justify. as many Of them had
not had regular rations for three or
four days. Yesterdays captures num-
bered thousands, whereas only hundreds
were taken to-day. the Germans in this
section being everywhere in flight. and
all apparently are now behind the line
of the Canal du Nord.
A naval division added a magnificent
achievement 10 yesterdays events. Driv-
ing southeastward this division swept
down the slopes toward the valley OF
the Acache. east Of Pronville, thus cut
ting off both Pronville and Queant the
movement being complete success.
The naval men had at one time a hard
fight. The attack went so fast it got
ahead OF the guns and the men were
left without artillery protection or
tanks. They suffered an enfilade fire
from the north, but this did not stop
them. These men sing the praises of
our machine gunners. who fired thou
sands of rounds to protect them.
This morning tho naval men pushed
toward Inchy. and up to noon they
seemed to have met with no serious
opposition. In fact the whole of our
front had moved forward an average
of $500 yards before noon to-day and
doubtless are much further by this
time. Our men express the greatest
surprise over the enemy's complete col
lapse The positions which we took
yesterday and to-day are such as any
troops naturally would fight hard TO
hold.
Enemy Air Screens Fail.
Last evening we knew new masses Of
enemy troops were assembling In the
direction of the Sensee Canal and Au-
bigny au Bac. The Germans tried to
screen this assembly with patrols of a
score or 80 of airplanes 10 prevent our
machines from getting through. Our air
men got over them, however, and bombed
the massing troops. Whether this dis
couraged the Germans we do not know
Anyway nothing came of the threat and
there Is no further evidence of stand
this side of the canal We are fghting
now on ground we never cached before
The naval mems advance behind Prom
willie brought them to the furthest point
We have reached since the Cambria at
tack last winter, before the German
offensive began. Our line then ran be-
tween Pronville and lnchy, although
neither of these points was taken.
North of the Scarpe the Germans seem
to be holding Blanche In strength. They
have damned the Scarpe at Nitry caus-
ing q food 10 prevent our advancing
there. The weather Is chilly but on the
whole excellent for campaigning
/ have been with the northern army
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