The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-22
ENEMY SURPRISED
BY ATTACK IN FOG
British Still Going ForUord
at Last Reports.

By the Associated Press.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE,
Aug 2l.-Smashing into Gen. Won Be-
lows Seventeenth Army during heavy
fog at dawn to-day on front OF more
than ten miles. extending from the Ancre
River to Moyenville. the British through
out the day made steady progress, cap
turing villages. taking prisoners ana
guns and INJECTING heavy casualties on
the surprised enemy.
Coming directly on the heels OF the bat
Gle south of the Somme, the scene OF which
virtually sdjoins the field OF the new
operations, this blow exploits to the limit
the confusion created among the German
forces by their recent defeats.
Heavy fighting has taken place along
the embankment of the Albert-Arras
railroad. which. although well WITHIN
the German lines last night. seems TO
have been reached easily by the storm
ing British infantrymen, who were as
sisted in this task by tanks.
From this embankment the Germans,
armed with countless machine guns,
fired rain OF bullets in an effort to
keep the British from coming further.
But while they were doing 1t they them
selves must have suffered severely. not
only from the food OF direct and indirect
machine gun fire but from shells which
were sent crashing about them from di-
rectly in front of them, from the Brit
ish field guns moved up closely In the
rear of the infantry, and from their
nank. where the big British guns hurled
in an avalanche Of steel from the north.
As is inevitable when a battle RACES
with such intensity as along this en-
bankmot, the exact situation Is OBJ
scure. but reports have been received
that the British have broken down the
German defence at various places and
have passed through to the eastern side.
Behind the embankment there may not
have been a great force of German re-
serves when the battle began. but by
this time the harassed enemy certainly
is rushing man to the scene as fast as
he can. for another disaster threatens
him.
The battle opened with a sudden crash
of guns of all calibres just as day was
breaknH Great pillows OF thick foe
such as are seen only on this side OF
the Atlantic hung over the scene. The
infantrymen and tank crews could
scarcely see a hundred feet ahead OF
them. and the flare of countless blazing
cannon was smothered. while explosions
from their mouths rolled up into a con-
tlnuous deadened roar.
The fog was most favorable to the at
lacking formations, for 1t effectually
shielded them from the eyes of the en-
envy and at the same time caused the
Germans opposite TO believe the attack
was not directly against them.
The guns sounded a long way off.
said a captured prisoner. 80 We con
graduated ourselves that we were no
TO be attacked. Just then tank. fol
lowed by infantry. rolled right over ou
position and | surrendered"
As tanks and men followed behind tn,
sweeping barrage the atmosphere be
came even thicker. for mixed with thu
. fog were great banks Of smoke from
,innumerable shells fred for just th
purpose OF increasing the protecting
screen.
The Germans guns retaliated onl,
feebly. but there was sharp fighting a
various points, where isolated post
filled with machine guns and gunner
put up a stiff battle. At the little shell
ruined village of Courcelles. about tn
centre Of the battle front, the German
garrison made a desperate fight, and 70
a time the advance of the infantry wa
held up at this place.
Then the tanks arrived and chsrge'
into the enemy positions. quickly trans
forming them from strongholds to sham
bles. The tanks repeated this perform
ance at other places where the stubborn
Boches held out courageously. Blu
their courage availed them nothing il
the face OF the great tanks, dipping II
and out OF shell holes and across oil
trenches that have seen some Of tn
wars fiercest fighting. and the smalle
wfipDet tanks and armored cars whic
sped over the ground at great rat
on their mission of clearing the wa
ror the infantry sweeping in at the rea
of the positions from which the encm
was working his guns.
In comparison with the harder fight
ing it IL worthy OF mention that at som
places no resistance OF any practical i'm
portance developed. For instance, tn
village of Beaucourt was taken wit
only three casualties. One wounded ma
.eturning from the fighting said he wen
IN three kiometers through the enem
lines before seeing a single Boche. Blu
this is explained by the fact that tn
German positions were very thinly hel
at some points. Logeast Wood was on
OF the most strongly held positions +
the foreground and this was reache
early in the day.
As to prisoners there is no definite In
formation. but more than 1000 hav
reached the cages and they have com
in from considerable distance, most o
them having been captured during tn
oners arrived at the cages with hand
bags and long curved porcelain pipe
They seemed clean, and were as please
with themselves as IL going on leave
One of them questioned said he was yer
happy to be taken.
A wounded British soldier told OF be
ing separated from his platoon in tn
fog. lie pressed on nevertheless an
Joined other groups. One said tina
punging blindly through the fog he ra
directly into German machine gun
which opened FIRE on him. 1t manage
t, get in one shot, taking off finger be
ore he and his comrades finished off IN
Germans with their rifles.
In the early forenoon the fog cleare
away completely and the sun appeare
and after that the battle progresse
under a broiling sun. As the fog di,
appeared the roar of airplane motor
increased, the British machines pursuin
1.-THE same tactics as at the Sonnn
harassing the enemy at the rear an
.straiing the German troops general!
.upsetting them completely at man
places
The fast little whippet tanks had, a
one tank officer said. Gone out int
the wide world" and there is no dout
that they are exactng as great to
here as they did south or the Somm
The armored cars had gone into actio
also, operating far forward, chasing III
Boche from his many lairs and maxim
quick work of those who would not rui
In this battle the advancing trooI
did not stop moment at their earl
detectives. Several formations joine
forces and pressed on together. Su,
cessive echelons were merged at plaC
where the going was heavy.
Thu hattla continues with ,,n.Aa. n