The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-07
DRIVE FOE STEADILY
TO HINDENBURG LINE.
British Overcoming Opposition
South Of Peronne on tho
Somme's East Bank.

. WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE
Sept. e.-All day the Germans have
been retiring gradually but surely to.
ward the Hindenburg line in the face
Of steady pressure. Al Nuriu and Tenn.
pleux la -Fossee. where strong German
rear guard and machine sunners had
been holding. were swept clear and the
positions now are in the hands OF the
British.
On the northern part Of the battle
front there have been slight skirmishes
and intermittent machine gun bursts
along the canal but the British here are
making no attempt at real advance
The enemy seems to be content to be
let alone here. and II showing no signs
Of any serious counter attack.
Further progress has been made both
north and south OF this locality. and the
British. advancing are overcoming op-
position south OF Peronne, on the east
bank of the Somme.
To the south the French also are GO
Ing forward and have captured San
court. north Of Ham. Far In the north
the British have made further progress
along the course of la Bassee Canal.
and elsewhere also have gained more
ground
Fires are raging at many places and
great pillows OF smoke are rolling across
the already devastated country. The
Germans seem bent upon setting fire TO
everything that will burn, destroying
what they had overlooked before.
In the Lens sector and northwest the
retirement continues on various sectors.
The British troops are speeding the re-
treating Germans wherever they do not
move fast enough. In this region also
many hres are burning and the Germans
are blowing up their stores and works
British airmen everywhere are INJECTING
heavy losses on the enemy troops and
transports with bombs.
The Australians have crossed the
Somme on wide front south Of Peronne
and, after overcoming heavy opposition.
have driven into the territory the enemy
was holding. 81. Christ, Brie. lie Mes
nil. Doignt and Athles Wood all have
been taken and progress is reported to
have been made east of these places.
The enemy also has been driven back
from east and northeast OF Peronne
over the whole area from which the
Germans are retreatins on this large
section Of the front many fires are rag
ing and numerous explosions have been
heard. Whole villages are atiame be-
tween the points to which the British
have reached and the Hindenburg line.
Here and In the northern areas the Ger
mans are burning vast quantities OF
war materials which they havo not had
time to save. as the British are pushing
them too hard.
The British have reached the Athles-
Ham sWad and are on the eastern out
skirts Of Busy. At Nurlu there has
been heavy fighting. Strong German
forces. fighting desperately with machine
guns and trench mortars. have caused
the British to pause here for the moment.
Along the whole front from the south
ern extremity 10 the Bapaume &C ambra
road the enemy artillery flre gradually
is dwindling away. indicating that the
Germans are making strenuous efforts
to get their guns back OF the Hindenburg
defences before the British catch up
with them.
In the Queant area the British. after
sharp hghting, occupied the ridge south
OF MoeuvIes and captured mora German
posts around Havrincourt Wood. South
Of Havrincourt Wood the advance north
and south Of Equancourt met with heavy
resistance. Just east OF Heme the whole
town Of Fins Is aname, and this resist
ance probably was offered to give the
destruction squads In Fins 4 chance to
complete their work.