Arizona republican., 1918-09-10
BRITISH ABOUT
 ! MILES FROM
 HUN DEFENSES
Not Much Ground Remains
 to Be Captured Before
 Germans Will Again Be On the Hindenburg Line

WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE, Sept. 9.-(By the Associated Press)-4 D. m.-Although little strips or ground have been gained here and there along the battle lines that zigzag thelr way across Artois and Picardy the British troops generally were sta tionary today.
 A neaVy rain whipped along the chill " Wind has covered the battle field with a coating of mud. This in a coun- try badly torn by shells of itself would necessarily result in a slower move ment, even if it were not necessary for the advanced troops to consolidate their | positions. In actions of maneuvers such as the British as well as the French to tke south, are engaged in, pauses of this kind are inevitable.
 Meanwhile fresh German divisions have made their appearance in this region so it may be expected that the resistance will become stiffer. Not a great deal of ground remains to be cap tured before the Germans will be on the Hindenburg line. The British now are about five miles away from the Germans much boasted defense sys- tenn.
 Hammering Enemy's Rear
 The Germans are having most un- comfortable time for the British guns in addition to laying their shells on the Germans between the British infantry positions and the Hindenburg line are vigorously hammering the enemys rear. The British artillery, firing OR the forward enemy areas has created great havic.
 The high ground overlooking Gou- zeaucourt and the wood of the same name to the northwest were captured The British guns from this section are able to direct an initiating fire on the enemy positions to the south.
 Past records show that the enemy W ill not get out except when he is pushed out. Thus he takes every opportunity available to destroy what he has nc l time to save.
 Not Satisfied With Defenses German documents show the enem, is not quite satisfied with himself ol with his defenses and his line is liter. l ally honeycombed with deep dugouts - An order issued by a German genera expressly forbids troops to occupy dug. r outs which descend lower than eigh e steps under ground. The general ap.
 pears to have been much worried or Q the subject and goes into great detai = III OT0eTlng Sucn 0ugOutS closed up o
 otherwise made useless for the troops ,. The German command has discovered
 that it's troops are unable to emerg . from deep dugouts in time to meet in
 fantry attacks following lombard s ments.
 It would seem that the Hindenbur, !, line may require considerable altera
 ton.
 ;, Short of Ammunition
 More fires are reported at variou n places along the front, including Douai '. Further corroboration of the enemy
 shortage of ammunition has been ob Q tained from gunner prisoners who sai,
 they had been receiving only limite, ] allOtments daily.
 n Captured orders indicate that tn
 German air service is being wei r combed out and that airplane mechani . clans, much to their disgust, are bein
 drafted into the infantry. One mechan - ician wrote to his brother in great de
 tail what he should do in order not t S be removed from the air forces. It ap
 pears that even the anti-aircraft bat = teries are parting with as much as te
 per cent of their effectives, so tha n more men may be had for the infantry