Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-25
BRITISH TAKE 5000
PRISONERS AND MANY
GUNS ON WEDNESDAY

With the Allied Armies in France and
Belgium, Oct A.-(By the Associated
Press).-The British have taken more
than 6Oo0 prisoners and many guns in
their new attack begun yesterday morn
Ing on the front below valenciennes
In brilliant moonlight, assisted by
roaring f1ocks Of night bombing air
planes, the British fought through the
night and made steady gains. They are
using seesaw tactics. and not at any
time since the new battle began has the
whole line attacked ali the series Of OBJ.
jectives at the same time. Guns are
moved up in relays so that there Is con-
stantly heavy fire on the German front
and rear. Infantry assaults are launch
ed at different times. First one end of
the line and then another section some
distance away Is sent smashing into the
enemy.
These tactics bewildered the Germans.
No enemy unit knows where an assault
is coming and all are forced to stand in
readiness under torrents Of steel. high
explosives. shrapnel and gas. A con-
Centration at Preux for counter attack
was observed from the air. Transports,
ammunition trains and masses Of MEN
became mixed up on the roads in mat
vicinity. When the concentration was
sufficiently large and the enemy traffic
appeared to be in the greatest state 81
confusion the British gunners opened ur
their weapons and pumped in steel as
rapidly as possible. Then after a few
minutes the ground was strewn WITH
dead men and horses, equipment, wag.
ons. lorries and limbers.
Reports just received from one section
Of the front tell of fierce fighting a. sew.
erai places. They particularly mention
Pomeruil, where the British were held
up for time by a murderous fire from
a heavy concentration of German ma.
chine guns. The place was filled with
the spluttering weapons. The British
waited for time until the advance had
progressed north and south of them
Then they swept around the town or
both sides. At the rear they found q
triangular cleared space in which the
German machine gunners retired to pre-
pared positions. The British went
| around them and captured Pomerui
wood at the back of the triangle, thus
surrounding the enemy.
For hours these Germans. knowing
and realizing they were doomed, held
out, firing continuously. At length
persons nearby observed they had
ceased firing. The British had
stormed the position.
A. Escarmain also there was des-
percte fighting. British machine
gunners from behind cover sprinkled
h il Of bullets over the town. Then
they advanced and found the town
q shambles. All over the place there
were dead Germans.
The enemy continues to shell all
the larger towns within range. not
withstanding the fact that there are
thousands of civilians in them. In
addition to Domain where there are
several thousand persons. mostly
women and children, the Germans
have been continuously Smelling LIE
Cateau, in which there are many
more.
The enemy shows no sign Of ceas-
ing his orgies of looting. Every town
the British have captured has been
pillaged. Usually the Huns break
up and destroy whatever they are
unable to carry off.
There are further signs that the
Germans either are now carrying out
or are on the verge of beginning a
retreat from the Scheldt line, as the
British north Of Valenciennes push
GU. in the direction Of Mons and
Maubeuge. They are less than IL
miles from Mons and about Is from
Maubeuge.
There was sharp fighting at Bousi-
csc before it was captured and after
tha- a good deal Of work was done
before the Germans remaining in the
town were all subdued. AS the en-
cmy retreated he exploded mines un-
der roads and railways, but no great
damage was done.
Many Alsatians have been cap
tured. A large number Of these ex-
pressed a desire to Join the French
army, saying they had been dragged
into the German army against their
will and desired more than anything
else TO fight the Emperor's forces.