The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-15
BRITISH PUSH
LINES WITHIN
MILE OF BRAY
Germans Seem Determined
to Hold High Ground
Near Meulte.
WURTEMBURGERS SUFFER
One Division SO Depleted That
1t Is Withdrawn-Thrcc
More Remain.
WURTEMBURGERS SUFFER
by PERRY ROBINSON.
Special Cable Despatch 10 THE suS from the
london Times Serrice

Spcc'ui tuOie DespuIch 10 lHE SCN rom the
london Times Service.
Copyright 1918; all rights reserved
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE.
Aug. 14.--Quiet continues on the Brit
ish sector of the battle front. Last
night in fighting north OF the Somme
Slightly on line running east OF
Etinehem to mile west of Bray,
thence northwestward to a point east
Of Dernancourt.
The Germans are evidently deter
mined to hold the high ground south
and southwest OF Meulte If they can.
In recent battles we have not attacked
that town.
Apparently the Twenty seventh
Wurtemburg Division. which attacked
the British north of the Somme on
August 6, suffered so severely that it
had to be withdrawn. II is believed
that three other Wurtemburg dlvi-
sions remain in the German line, put
there sirce, our advance.
Might Passes Quietly.
South ~ the Somme the night passed
quietly except for artillery FIRE and air
plane activity The Germans shelled
Framerville and Vauvillers heavily at
intervals. Enemy airplanes were active
in the darkness both along the front
lines and in the back areas.
was at Chpilly to-day. going there
by way of Cerisy. over the German built
bridge which spans the river there. The
former iron bridge lies in midstream.
This village is extraordinarily well
placed for defensive purposes. The
north and west portions lie below the
| level OF the surrounding country. in a
valley which breaks down to n plain in
sudden jagged banks which were every
where honeycombed with dugouts and
machine guns. The latter were placed
! in the most formidable positions.
Chipilly is only ghost OF its former
self. When ! was there last brigade
of Canadian cavalry was stationed in
| the town. I looked for the building In
which the cavalry officers formerly as
sembled for their conferences and found
1t would be a poor place for any sort OF
meeting now. The walls were pierced
by many shells and the roof. though
! fairly intact, was full OF holes and tilted
askew like hat on a tipsy head
Whole Village Ruined.
The whole village is similarly ruined.
A pathetic sight is the old church. a
mere husk with piles of splintered wood
/ and masonry inside. on either side of
| the shattered altar were two life size
| figures of the Saviour and the Virgin
Mary. both intact.
Even as | stood there stream OF bull
let's from a machine gun somewhere to
the east whipped wickedly against the
fragmentary walls. throwing splinters OF
wood and stone in shower.
Not house in the town remains in
tact. few being anything more than
heaps of rubbish. with skeleton beams.
The only sign of life in the village was
the swallows. which streamed and
whrled among the ruins. tChipilly is
where the Americans foughtD
The British losses in the fighting since
August are known to be extraordinarily
small. one stretcher bearer who was
wounded east OF Amiens and who now
is in hospital in London said;
When we reached the trenches we
just had time for "A quick nip Of grog
then came three minutes OF terrible
bombardment from our guns, 1t is bad
enough to be under Fritzs barrage, but
| should hate still more to have to roost
under one OF our own.
WaIkOvcr for the British.
when we received orders to go over
the top it was rather misty didn't
hear any rife fire from the enemy. and
when we finally came In touch with the
Germans they didn't put up any fight at
all 1t was n walkover for us. I sup
pose our barrage must have kicked all
the fight out OF them.
Those who didn't run put up their
hands and came running toward us with
their usual 'Kamerad" Some OF them
tried to play dirty tricks after showing
signs of surrender and when they saw
some OF our men had slung their rifles
But we have learned from experience
how TO deal with that lot, Some OF them
wanted to give us watches, and one
even offered his Iron Cross II we
wouldn't punish him for firing at one OF
our unarmed comrades.
when II was light we could see them
running away and our men chased them,
Our eighteen pounders--that Is what we
call the youngsters OF our 'l9 class
we're splendid. just like old timers"
Advice to those who want TO sell their -.
nnNna-na.,