The sun., 1918-08-09
BRITISH ATTACK
SURPRISE AFTER
ANXIOUS NIGHT
Germans Were Suspicious,
but Expected No Big
Offensive.
MANY PRISONERS TAKEN
One Corps Alone Reports the
Capture Of 1000 Men
Barrage Terrific.
By PERRY ROBINSON.

Specia, Gable Despatch TO The suS from the
london Times.
Copyright 1918: oil rights reserved.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE,
Aug. s.--with French cooperation the
British to-day launched the first large
scale offensive they have begun this
year. The enemy was taken COM
pletely by surprise and the capture OF
prisoners and guns was very heavy.
one corps alone reporting more than
1000 prisoners. The roads leading
back from the front were congested
with prisoners before noon.
The day has been brilliant success
for the British. The attack was
launched at 4:3O o'clock this morning
by the Fourth British Army. under
command Of Sir Henry Rawlinson,
aided by French troops. all being un-
der command OF Sir Douglas Haig.
Tho attack covered a front Of more
than twenty miles, OF which the Brit
ish had charge Of the northern twelve,
from near Morlancourt to q point south
OF the River Luce. The French ex-
tended the attack across the River
Ancre.
british Prisoners Kept Secret.
The morning began clear. but when
day began to tighten thick mtsts rose
in the river valleys. so that 1t was
impossible for spectators to see any
thing Of the action. 1t was an anxious
night, as we did not know whether the
enemy had any idea OF our impending
attack. They took some prisoners from
US IN the fighting below Morlancourt
and it was impossible to tell whether
these men had given any indmaoon
OF our plans. Events proved that they
had not.
More than once during the night there
was a sudden enemy Smelling on parts
of our front. which indicated the enemy
was at least on the alert
From the first prisoners We brought
in we gathered that the Germans had
suspicious but they seem to have an
t.cipated some sort of local action and
had no inkling OF the big blow that was
TO fall or that II was to fall with such
shattering force.
I'm rrnue Sounded Heaviest of War.
When the critical moment came there
was no apprehension on the enemy s
part. To us back Of the lines 1t sound
ed as II our barrage was the heaviest
OF the war. This impression was con-
.irmed later by the men who went over
behind IT, 1t lasted only a few mo-
ments before the attack started. but
those few minutes were sufficient to
f,atten the enemy positions. The Ger
mans began counter attack with ar
tulcry, but II was feeble and Ineffective.
Up to the time l left the immediate
front at noon our men all came back
with the impression that the enemy's
defences had been smothered. and that
only scattered machine guns had been
left at widely separated points to op-
pose our advance. These were quickly
accounted for either by tanks or in
fantry. Aided by smoke screens the
tanks were In the thick OF the fight
everywhere doing magnificent service.
In little more than an hour after
the start was made word came back
that our men had captured the whole
first tier OF villages, while the French
on our right were making equally good
progress BY noon they had crossed
the River Avre and were taking viii
lagos right and left. The advance con-
t!nued uniformly along the whole front
Victory Was in the Air.
At one time during the day was back
Of the French lines. and 1t is hard to
find words to adequately express the
admiration one feels for the magnificent
dash OF these troops One had feeling
that victory was in the air; that no
power on earth could stop our men. 1t
all worked like a beautiful machine.
with the tanks going in first. followed in
regular order by the infantry. and with
ammunition wagons and supplies bring
ing up the rear. II was impossible to
think OF them except as victors,
1t was exnilarutlng to find that the
two Allies whom the Germans had so
confidently expected to crush during the
summer were now facing the other way
and showing them that we could strike
as hard as they. Then, too. we had the
| solid satisfaction OF knowing that back
OF US stood the ever growing American
strength, ready to be released.
spoke to several Of our wounded, all
Of whom said they enjoyed the scrap i'm
mensely. One of our young officers
| went forward four thousand yards with
his men when a machine gun bullet
| caught him in the shoulder. In spite
| of many recent rains he said the ground
was in surprisingly good condition for
fghting.