The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-03-20

this area the entire division was
trained in attacking in conjunction
with British tanks.
"On September II the division
was again moved further south, with
division headquarters at Herissart,
and on September % was moved to
the British Fourth army, with dlvls-
ion headquarters at Bois de Bulre,
near Tincourt, taking over front
line sector from the First Australian
division on the night of 23d-24th.
On the Hmdenburg Line.
"On September 29 this division,
with the Twenty-seventh American
division on the left and tht Forty
sixth British division on the right,
assaulted the Hindenburg line. The
Hin6enburg line at this point curves
in front of the Tunnel st. Quentin.
This was considered impregnable by
the Germans for the following rea-
sons: The Hindenburg line, curV-
ing west of the tunnel, consisted OF
three main trench systems protected
by vast fields of heavy barbed wire
entanglements skilfully placed; this
wire was very heavy and had been
damaged very little by artillery ire.
The dominating ground enabled them
to bring devastating machine gun
gun fire on all approaches. The lines
had been strengthened with concrete
machine gun emplacements. 1t con-
tanned at this point large number
of dugouts lined with mining TIM
bers, with wooden steps leading
down to a depth of about thirty feet,
with small rooms capable of holding
from four to six men each. In many
cases these dugouts were wired for
electric lights. The large tunnel
through which the canal ran was OF
sufficient capacity to shelter dlvls-
ion. This tunnel was electrically
lighted and filled with barges. Con-
Meeting it with the Hindenburg
trench system were numerous tun-
nels. In one case a direct tunnel
ran from the main tunnel to the
basement of large stone building,
which the enemy used for headquar-
ters. Other tunnels ran from the
main tunnels eastward to the city OF
Bellicourt and other places. This
complete subterranean system with
it's hidden exits and entrances, un-
known to us, formed a most complete
and safe subterranean method OF
communication and reinforcement
for the German sector.
"The Thirtieth division, the Sixth
eth brigade, augmented by units OF
the 117th infantry, attacking as
saulted this line at $50 a. m, Sep
tember 20, on a front of 5000 yards,
captured the entire Hindenburg sys-
tenn of that sector, and advanced fur
ther, capturing the tunnel sys-
tenn of that sector, with
the German troops therein, and took
the cities of Bellicourt, Nauroy,
Riqueval, Carriere, Etricourt, Gull
laine, Ferme and Ferme de Riqueval,
advancing 4,200 yards, defeating two
enemy divisions of average qaulity,
(the Seventy-fifth Reserve division
and the 185th division), taking as
prisoners Al officers and 1,434 men.
ION October / and 2 the Thrift
eth division was relieved by the Fifth
Australian division and moved to
back area, with division headquar-
ters at Herbecourt. The division
scarcely reached this area when it
| was marched back and took over
the front line in the same sector
from the second Australian division
near Monthrehain on the night of
the 4th-5th.
Attacking Day After Day.
ION October 8, 9, 10, and II the
Thirtieth division attacked each day,
advancing 1880 yards and captur-
ing LIE Tilleul d'Archies, LIE Petit
Canbresis, Becquigny, Mon Sarasin,
LIE Trou Aux Soldats, Busigny, Glo-
riette, LIE Vert Onion, Escaufort, LIE
Bond Font, Vaux Andigny, Vallee
Hasard, La Hale Mennsresse, La
Rochelle, LIE Vent de Bise, St. Sou
piet, St. Benin, Malassise, Geneve,
half of Montbrehain, Brancourt, Pre-
mont, Vaux de Pretre Brancoucourt,
Fraicourt Ferme, Bois Mirand, Bu-
try Ferme, La Sabliere, Bois, Bee
quignette Ferme, Bois de Malmaison,
Malmaison Ferme, Bois de Busigny
Bois l'Ermitage, Bois Proyart, I'm
berfaye, and Du Guet Fassiaux Fer
mes, taking prisoner As officers and
1889 men. The Fifty-ninth bri-
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