STORIES OF THE TANKS.

Bruce Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 74, 20 September 1917, Page 5

STORIES OF THE TANKS.

IN THE FLANDERS BATTLE. STUCK IN MUD BUT SAVED. Mr Pirrio Robinson, correspondent of 'The Times' at British Headquarters, states that tanks were used in the Flanders Battlo only for obstinate trenches and strong redoubts which resisted the first infantry attacks. Whereever there was a chance the tanks took it despite bad ground and gunfire. Some landships fought for 17 hours, and one was going for 24 hours before the crew got home for breakfast. The ground in places was too soft for such elephantine beasts. At one point two wero stuck in the m ire in the front line. The Germans attacked in force, hoping to capture them, but our infantry helped to defeat the attacks. In duo course tlio monsters heaved themselves out of the mud and departed unscathed. Another, at St, Julien, took 60 prisoners unaided. Another captured a fortified farm, and eight officers, who surrendered at the mero threat of a tank attack. THE PARADE. A strong point on tho west sido of St. Julien surrendered to a tank, which then, with brother machines, paraded tho streets, routing the lurking Germans. The tank had a lively game of hido and seek with tho enemy at Pommcrn Castlo and adjoining strongholds. Tho German machine-guns were objectionable, so the tank went for them. .The garrison bolted to tho redoubt, and tho tank lumbered after them under a hail of machine-gun and rifle bullets. Agility is not tho tank's strong feature, and when it proceeded to flatten tho redoubt tho Germans slipped back to the castle. This .might have gone on indefinitely, but the infantry arrived and cleared tho position. At other places, with peaceful names, such as Plum Farm and Apple Villa, tho tanks wero useful. One stuck in the mud, and the officers and men emerged under a heavy firo and got it going again. ENGINE IN A DITCH. The strength of a tank is sometimes a drawback. Ono butted in the darkness into a railway engine, pushing it into a ditch. Then it obediently pulled it back. Another ; pulling a heavy motor lorry from a ditch, gave a mighty heave and walked off with half a lorry dangling behind it. Tho tanks are always ludicrous, but they have become a serious branch of the a.rmy. None face greater peril than the crows of theso steel boxes. All behaved with tho greatest gallantry. The Germans hate tho tanks, and frequently flee before them.