Evening star., 1918-08-24
British FoHov Up Success;
Disastrous Day for Germans

attacking. Some apparently did not
even know exactly where they were.
Fighting Is Severe.
The fighting south of Gomiecourt
today was especially severe. Incl
dentally. this movement cut in around
the rear of Achiet-le -Grand. At the
same time the British here. having
launched another frontal attack on
the enemy's stronghold, were again
in hard fighting. While the battle
was raging here British planes were
helping the fighters on the ground by
heavily bombing or using mach inc
things obtained were several direct
hits on building at the rear of which
were a number of touring cars. The
building apparently was a German
headquarters.
South of Achiet-le-Gfand the British
did not start today's operations SO
early as farther north. The New Zea-
landers here stopped work to let a
German counter attack develop. They
played dead until the advancing
enemy infantry was almost on top
of them. Then they put down heavy
machine gun barrage just at the rear
of the Germans. who surrendered in
body rather than be killed in their
tracks. This happened just north of
Miraumont. Many of the prisoners
were non-commissioned officers, and
all of them appeared to be glad that
they had been captured. When asked
about the Austrians the prisoners ex-
pressed the greatest contempt for
their allies as soldiers. saying they
were no good whatever.
Foe Menaced From Rear.
Slightly to the south the British
have crossed the Ancre river and
started back in the general direction
of Courcelette. Already they are re-
This move menaces from the rear the
German stronghold at Thiepval.
which is an old fortress.
At Albert the British pushed for
ward toward Tara hill. at the back
OF that town. An airplane report of
held the entire position. About the
same time German shells started
breaking on Tara, while British
shrapnel could be seen bursting some
distance on the other side of it.
showing where the enemy had been
driven Considerable numbers of
prisoners were taken in this locality.
The British troops seem to be
progressing we'll up the road from
Albert to Bapaume, Welsh troops
are participating In the fighting in
this neighborhoed. .*
Meaulte in British Hands. =
South of Albert. Meaulte appsarst6
be in British hands. having been caps
line extends southeasterly. with a
break where the GeffBa ms last even
ing managed to- take Happy. valley,
just northwest of Bray; by throwing
in fresh troops of. the .25th Division.
which apparently. were brought up
for this ff1YrnoSe 3
The Germans suffered severely here
during the first attack. The fighting
was very heavy. Since then the Ger
mans have been constantly heavily
fred upon: Happy valley truly is "a
shamble. It's name bellies it. "a
Australians Successful.
South of the somn1e the Australians
were most successful in the part they
played in today's battle. They easily
attained all their objectives and ap-
parently hold Chuignolles. Chuignes
and Herleville and are pushing east
ward of these villages little dis
In this region thirty-three German
officers and 1900 men of other ranks
were made prisoner. Eleven of the
captured officers were from one regi-
ment.
The Germans offered heavy resist
sistahce of tanks. the Australians
hammered through the enemy and
swept on, leaving the town and its
environs filled with dead Germans.
On the ridge south of this town
there also was fierce fighting, which
almost reached the hand-to-hand
stage before the Australians made it
clear to the Germans that they were
not to be stopped and showed over
the ridge and onward.
Just now large numbers of guns
are roaring away all along the line.
At some places they are steadily
hammering.. at others it. IL rolling up
into intense. drumire.. telling where
thes fighting is going on. The Ger
man shells seem to be coming in from
long distances. Evidently their guns
have been moved back for safety.
The German artillerymen apparently
have not the greatest confidence In
the ability Of their comrades in the
infantry to. ward of the blows being
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