The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-09-30
'LUSITANIA'' CRY
 OF AMERICANS AS THEY CHARGE HUN
Tanks Accompany Troops in Dash Near St. Quentin
 Canal.

British Headquarters in France, Sunday. Sept. 2s-(Reuters)-Strik- ing at the strongest point of the Him. denburg line between St. Quentin and LeCatelet, British and American troops launched terrific attack at 6 o'clock this morning. Forty-eight hours before the infantry advanced against the German lines the British artillery had maintained a terrific fro against the enemy positions. For the last 10 hours of this bombardment gas shells by the thousands were hurled against the Germans, causing comparative silence to fall over the enemy lines.
 Last night successful preliminary infantry attack developed between Marcoing and Masnieres against the main Hindenburg line. Under a creeping curtain of flame, the main assault was launched this morning. A large force of American troops. shout ing "Lusitania," advanced in the first waves with splendid dash.
 A large number of tanks went out with the first wave, being directed against front of 5000 yards south of Vendhuile, where the St. Quentin canal passes through tunnel.
 Using the Vendhuile gap as a bridge, the Americans stormed for ward, deploying fan-wise as they went One British division swan across the canal. Then under steady into the village of Bellenglise. n streaming back in droves. By this time the first phase of the attack had ended, and after pause the advance was resumed.
 Then one of the most dramatic incl dents of the battle occurred. The Americans tired and besplashed but in hearty spirits, opened their ranks and Australian units, moving up in | support, swept through them and be- came the first wave of the renewed at- | tack. The storm of cheering that greeted this manoeuvre rose high above the roar of conflict. There was hard fighting at many places where the Germans had estab- hshed redoubts of extraordinary Strength. American battalions, which advanced so rapidly at first that some were checked by their own barrage fire, met with strong resistance. An immensely strong machine gun posi- ton at the entrance of the subterran- can canal was subdued by the aid of | tanks.
 New Zealand regiments drove a deep wedge into the enemys line south of Cambrai and took 1000 prisoners.
 Canadians approached Families north of Cambrai and at some points were astride the more important lines of communications. AS the morning advanced 1t became clear that the bat tie was developing into a victory Much of the personal equipment aban- doned by the enemy appears to be quite new.
 i Le Catelet, the key position to tAe whole sector between Bel1icourt and Banteux, was unoficially reported in allied hands by noon. The Allies ap- parently are astride the St. Quentin Cambrai railway at places, thus seri- ously restricting the enemy's con1mu- nication.
 Important fortified villages. includ- ing La vacquerie, Naayroy, Bony and Villers- Guislain were taken early in the battle The effects of the terrific allied bombardment were everywhere visible.
 On the Belgian front, Holthulst vil-
 lage, lost by counter attack. was re- taken today by King Albert's troops, Staden has been taken and the whole Passchendaelt ridge system has been
 overrun. The Belgians counted more than $500 prisoners. On the St. Quentin front 4,0oo Germans were captured.