Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-29
Continued from Pase One

chine-gun teams scattered about among
shell craters, partly screened from OBJ
servation by tall, growing crops. These
crops we're sown when this country was
in the hands Of the British, in the first
months Of the year, by poor peasants,
who were suddenly caught by the shift
ing edge of war. and who fed. as saw
them in April all over this ground. with
their OLD women and children, while
shellfire plowed UP the fields about them.
The Germans were making ready for
breakfast among those patches of rye
and barley, cut into squares by the mar
row canals. when the British lombard
ment opened on them and was followed
by the advance of the English troops. It
was o'clock in the morning CT a day
which turned out warm, with brilliant
sunshine. 80 that all the poppies in the
corn were glowing red. At that hour
It is still chilly, but light. and the Eng
lish rihemen and bombers and machine
gun crews went trampling through the
corn and searching for enemy outposts
There was not much fighting, for the
Germans were overwhelmed before they
could do much, and the British CASUAL
ties were light right up to the objectives
which were their limit. After that there
was some firing from two bits Of farm
on the other side of the stream, called
Plate Becque, which was the boundary
Of the advance, in which the Germans
had machine guns posted.
Capture Machine Guns
Some Of the South Country troops
found one trench which had been dug
between organized shell holes, and in
this they captured forty of the enemy
and some machine guns which they
turned on the German position ahead
1t was all quickly done. and so far there
has been no counter-attack.
gloomily. AS I have said. they are
disheartened because, In spite Of the ter
rife assaults Of their armies since March
81. they have gained no decisive victory
nothing which seems at all likely to
end the war with a German peace, die
tated by the army chiefs. Kuehlman in
terpreted the conviction Of many Ger
man troops when he said. or is reported
to have said. that no military decision
could be obtained, and that II peace
waited for that II would not come this
year. or perhaps next.
German soldiers do not yet know a
new fact, one which makes II certain
for their country that no fnal and de-
cisive victory can be gained over the
Allies! They do not-at least, on the
northern part Of the western 'front.'
know that formidable numbers Of Ameri-
can troops are pouring into France. Ger
man propaganda In their own country
Is doing everything in it's power to min
inize the purpose Of the American aid
to the Allies and pretending that only
small numbers Of Americans are drib-
bling through. So far that campaign
Of falsehood has been successful in hid
ing the truth from the main bulk Of
the German armies and people, although
on the French front, where American
troops have proved their presence, the
revelation has startled the enemy troops
in contact with them.
London, June 20.
The number of prisoners captured
by the British in their big advance
Yesterday out of Nieppe Forest F'lan.
than 400, the War ONCE announced
today. o..
During the night great artillery ac-
tivity developed in the sector Of Vaire
Wood Picardy 'front.'.
In the fighting near Nieppe Wood
yesterday the British advanced to the
average depth Of a mile over a three
and a half-mile front,
It was a surprise attack and the
Germans were taken completely of
their guard. In addition to taking
many prisoners the British captured
three villages and upwards Of score
Of machine guns.
The total prisoners in yesterday g
successful operation east Of Nieppe
Forest exceeds 400, including those
taken west of Merris." the statement
said.
Two German field guns and a mum.
Der Of machine guns and trench NOR
tars also were taken.
Opposite Vaire Wood, south Of the
Somme and west of Feuchy. there was
hostile artillery fire.
'In the Nieppe Forest sector there
was increased mutual artillery firing