THE ADVANCE ON LENS.

Bruce Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 66, 23 August 1917, Page 1

THE ADVANCE ON LENS.

BATTLE IN THUNDERSTORM. The special correspondent of the United Press Association of America at the British Headquarters says:— "The British advanced south-west of Lens during a terrilic thunderstorm, which broke just before dark on Thursday. They advanced for an average of 500 yards along a two miles front, halfway through Avion (since whdlly occupied), and also well to the southeast of Lens. The Germafjp, did not make any counter-attack, and all the gains were consolidated." _ "I watched the battle from an elevation behind the Canadians. A black stormcloud camo up with vivid lightning and thunder-claps, which could not be distinguished from the reports of the howitzers. The infantry stormed the outskirts of Lens and the German positions on the plains southward to the accompaniment of both Heaven's artillery and that of Sir Douglas Haig.

"The aeroplanes defied the elements, and literally played with the storm. Again they swept the Germans from the sky, and were the deciding factor in the battle. "One youthful pilot amused the troops who were waiting for the timo to attack with nose dives, spins and loops. His pranks acted like a tonic." THE "WOMAN OF AVION." Mr Philip Gibbs, the special correspondent of the 'Daily Chronicle,' gives a curious description of the manner in which the defenders of Lens are harassed by drums of blazing oil and suffocating smoTke screens. He goes on:—"Our shells at the opening of the battle burst in a wide sweep around Lens, lighting fires there. A long chain of golden fountains arose like miniature mines. They were followed by a high bank of white, impenetrable smoke. Above the smoke-clouds rose one of the strangest things seen during the war. It was the figure of a colossal woman, whose head reached the heavens above Avion. It seemed to be carved out of rock and staring across the battlefield. It remained unchanged for several minutes. "In spite of the difficulty of piercing smoko banks, and of the heavy rain, "which made the ground as slippery as ice, tho Canadians wen,t on victoriously. The British losses were not heavy."