Arizona republican., 1918-10-04
BRITISH
 SWIM CANAL IN
 STORM IF BULLETS

WITH THE BRITISH ARMY ON THE ST. QUENTIN SECTOR, oct. 9. .t By the Associated Press)-Among the English divisions which have made deep gains in this sector in the recent fighting in the 46th command by major general (censored) who was a private in the South African war. It was this division which first crossed the Hindenburg line at St. Quentin canal, north of Bellenglise last Sunday.
 The entire division attacked from point 2000 yards from the canal and virtually annihilated all the Germans holding the first Hindenburg line there. Then, being unable 10 see two feet because of the dense fog these soldiers followed the explosions of their barrage to the canal banks, where. under the leadership of Brig. General (Ccnsored), the winner of the Victoria Cross. plunged into the water.
 Swim Against Leaden Hail
 Ihe opposite bank was lined with German machine guns. some of the British wore life belts removed for the occasion from the leave" boats ply ing between England and France, while others plunged boldly in and 'ANiNf'o AhAOhS d B1lltEA lldii of bullets. Some went hand over hand across life lines. Only one man was drowned in the whole operation.
 Once on the other bank the men or this North Midlands division immed- lately plunged into the fight. fought their way up the slippery canal banks, went over the eneme parapets and fin- ished off hundreds in every section with bayonets and rifles and pistols fired at point blank. The terrified Germans just a little bit further back saw the performance and ran for their lives.
 During the operations of a single day this division by it's dash and quick fighting took 4200 prisoners. 70 cannon. more than 1000 machine guns and great quantities of war material.
 Casualties of British 800
 The total casualty list of tho division was only 500. This is regarded by the British army as the greatest feat over performed by British division.
 In addition to the difficulties already related the ground over which the man attacked east of the Canal lay between two hills, on either side of which the Germans had their field guns. Thc smoke barrage and the terrific bonn bardment from the British cannon kebt the Germans fairly quiet until the canal had been crossed but then many batteries began firing down on the ad- NancinS Englishmen. In many ir- stances the enemy guns were charged by groups of Englishmen and finished off in hand hand fighting.
 Charge Into Mouths of Cannon
 One battery of three ITS on the top of hill was especially obnoxious and part of company charged right into the mouths of the guns with the Ger mans firing at the Englishmen point blank with open sights. Luckily they sent the shells over the heads of the attackers.
 The Englishmen finally reached the guns when they turned to fire on six tanks which were advancing and every German gunner was bayoneted to death. Even today one of these Ger man gunners is lying across his big gun carriage with his hands on the breach block lever and a bayonet wound through hi sthroat. The En- glishmen hagged nearly a thousand prisoners at one place during this en- gagement.
 After the EnSlishmen had crossed the canal one party was sent to one end of the Bellenglise tunnel and another 10 the other end. There were signs immediately that the tunnel was full of men. Therefore a captured German howitZer was brought up to one end of the tunnels mouth and a shot was sent screaming through it. Immediately. terror stricken Germans began literally to pour from the tunnel with their hands up. yelling Kane rad One shot from their own howitZ- CT was enough completely to change the plans of these Germans. who very apparently were in hiding. hoping that the Englishmen would pass on and en | able them to come out and attack from | the rear as others of their comrades | did in the case of Americans who reached advanced positions in the neighborhood of Gouy.
 The tunnel later was found to be | filtered with machine guns, rifles am munition and all the equipment of the thousand men who abandoned it in | their terror.
 If prisoners taken in the Armen | tieres sector arc to be believed il would appear that the Germans hero arc intending at this time to retreat generally to the line running just ir front of Lille