Arizona republican., 1918-07-05
URPR|SEF EFOR HUN C0NP P[ETE.
 GAIN NOTABLE
Americans Cooperate In
 Striking Method Devised
 In Celebration of the
 Fourth of July at Front

WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE, July 4.-(By the Associated Press) Complete success crowned the splendid surprise attack made by the Australians at dawn today against the Germans between Villers-Breton- neux and the Somme-an attack which had been specially set to coincide with independence day.
 The enemy was taken entirely un- awares and the big framed fighters from Australia stormed their way through the bewildered grey coats with little opposition-a vertable hu- man tornado which left a wake of death behind it.
 Hamel Village Rushed Hamel village was rushed and taken | in short order. Vaire and Hamel woods. with their nests of cracking machine guns were passed through al | if the Australians were doing a prac- | tice charge for their commander and a line of enemy trenches east of these l strongholds was cleared out and an neXed
 l About 1,500 prisoners were in the | British cages this afternoon while out on the battlefield great numbers of the German emperor's men lay silent un- l bring them no cheer. | Take Much Territory It took the assaulting forces about an hour and a half to wrest from the enemy territory four miles wide and averaging a mile and a half deep. By this operation they eliminated salient in the British line and gained valuable high ground. The casualties were eX- Eceedingly light.
 Two minutes before that hour the British artillery along the sector dropped a tremendous barrage from guns of all calipres.
 This was the first warning. Even the great, uncouth tanks had been gotten into position without the enemy being aware of their presence.
 Fourth of July Memorial
 The first streaks of dawn were be- ginning to light the rolling valley of the Somme as the adventurous Aus tralians went forward to lay the cor nerstone for this Fourth of July me morial. A dense smoke barrage was sent swishing out toward the German lines and through this concealing shroud the tanks began to crawl swift ly into action.
 Behind these and even riding on tor of them were the irrepressible Aus tralians. grinning their delight at the prospects of another good fight There was a furry of rifle fire from the startled enemy, and hostile machine , guns began to chatter viciously as they poured their stream of bullets out across the dimly lighted No Mans Land toward the oncoming bank ot smoke, which concealed they knew no what.
 Germans Wake Up Finally The German artillery began to reply but it was without effect.
 The guns of the tanks began to hur explosives The Australians charged on with their iron friends and as the! went found the going easier The en emy infantry declined to face thes' l invulnerable forts and the khaki clat men from the far lands, who tough like demons and staked their lives a they would a sixpence on the greer cloth.
 All along the line Germans began their frenzied: "Kamerad. Kamerad Mercy"
 About them their unfortunate com rades were falling in great number before the fire of the tanks and tn play of the Australian rifles and bay onets.
 Face Three Divisions
 One German battalion commando and nearly all his command Wer rounded up and sent on their way t the rear Three German divisions wer opposite the Australians-the thir teenth, which had just been brough to the sector from the north. the forty third and the seventy seventh. Not withstanding their strength, however they were unable to make any show ing.s
 At only one point did the enem hold the attacking troops up and the only for brief time.
 Small Raid Succeeds
 Just north of this, between tn Ancre and the Somme, minor opera ton was in progress. Here the Brit ish made one small attack and tw raids which kept the whole line boil ing. The British advanced their lin 400 yards along a front of 1.200. addition capturing considerab number of prisoners.
 The German artillery was shellin Hamel this afternoon, but at latest rt ports no counter attack had deyelope and the Australians were consolida' in their new positions.
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