NEW WEAPON IN THE WEST.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15699, 19 September 1916, Page 7

NEW WEAPON IN THE WEST.

SENSATIONAL SUCCESS IN THE

ADVANCE.

FRENCH SECURE GAINS.

TWO VILLAGES COMPLETELY OGCUPIED

AN ITALIAN OFFENSIVE.

CONCENTRATION OF A THOUSAND

GUNS.

(3rd YEAR—SOth DAY.)

THE WESTERN THEATRE.

OUR GAINS EXTENDED.

CONFLICT IN THE OPEN.

MANY AIR RAIDS.

(By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright.;

(Beater's Telegrams.) (Received September 18th, 7.40 p.m.) LONDON, September 18.

Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "Several heavy enemy counterattacks eouth of the Ancro were all repulsed. "The enemy, advancing from Lesboeufs, north of Flers, was caught in our artillery barrage, and lost heavily. "An enemy brigade, advancing between Flers and Martinpuich to attack in the direction of High Wood, met two of our battalions in the open. Hand-to-hand fighting ensued, in which we were completely successful. The enemy was dispersed with heavy losses. "We improved our position north of Mouquet Farm. , "Our artillery was active, and caused another conflagration in the enemy ammunition dump at Grandcourt, northeast of Thiepval.

"Our aviators continued their successful attacks on the enemy's communications.

"Two hundred and fifty prisoners were taken during the day."

NEW POINTS OCCUPIED.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, September 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "We have achieved further successes south of the Ancre. "We extended our gains, on Saturday evening on a front of 1000 yards in the vicinity of Courccllettc. "Wo also obtained considerable success on Saturday evening in the neighbourhood of Thiepval, capturing the fortification known as the Danube trench on a front of a mile. The Germans hero abandoned considerable quantities of rifles and equipment. "Wo also 'captured a strongy-de-fended 'work at Mouquet Farm, whoso possession has been hotly contested for •weeks.

"There wae a number of successful minor operations during the night on other parts of the front."

WITH THE FRENCH,

A VIGOROUS ONSLAUGHT.

TWO VILLAGES SECURED

(Receivcd September 18* th. 7.40 p.m.) PARIS, September 18. A communique says:— "North of tho Sommo our artillery actively bombarded enemy works.

"South of tho Sommo wo gained important successes in the villages of Vermandovillers and Berny, which hitherto have been partly occupied by us. They wero conquered by a brilliant assault, but sonio houses aro still resisting.

"All the ground between Vermandovillers and Deniecourt, and between : I>eniecourt and Berny. which was defended by several systems of stronglyfortified trenches, fell into our hands after a desperate struggle. "Fighting continues around Deniecourt. "Wo captured a number of trenches between Berny and Barleaux. "All enemy counter-attacks were shattered by our fire with heavy lose. "Seven hundred unwounded prisoners have already been counted.'' AEKIAL ACTIVITY. PARIS, September 17. A French communique states: — "There 'was only artillery activity in the Berny and verniandovillers sectors. "We dropped 15 bombs on a hangar at Hatehehn, 230 on tho railway station and aerodrome at Tergnier, 32 on the railway station at Abbecourt, 72 on railway stations at Roisel, Epehy and Athies, ana railways at Ham and St. Quentin." I

THE GERMAN REPORT.

HEAVY ATTACKS ADMITTED

LONDON, September 17. The German communique states: — "All attacks northward of tho Somme were sanguinarily repulsed. Fighting i s still proceeding round small English positions near CourcelJette, Fiers, and westward of Leebceufs.

Very definite attacks have developed south of the Somme with ceaseless artillery fire."

THE "NEW TOY."

WEIRD AND WONDERFUL.

A THRILLING ACCOUNT

(Received September 18th, 7.15 p.m.) LONDON, September 18. Mr Phillip Gibbs, writing in the "Daily Chronicle," says: — "Tho British went over the parapets on Friday exalted and excited by the smell of victory. They were laughing as they ran, because a new toy inflamed their fancy. They were enormously cheered and amused by the new weapons so dully described by tho official bulletin.

".The secret of these extraordinary armoured motors lias been jealously kept for months. Ail manner of marvellous powers have been attributed to them —that they wero proof against bullets, bombs, and shell splinters, and took ditches like kangaroos. "In actual sight they arc monstrously comical—like enormous toads—but they did good -work, and scared the Germans dreadfully. "Their utility was proved near Courcellcte, whero our infantry was held up at a Gorman redoubt in tho ruins of a sugar factory, which -was full of ma-chine-guns. It was one of those deadly places which- had previously cost so many lives. "Then over the British trenches, in the half-light of dawn, the new monster crawled to tho rescue of tho troops, who cheered and even laughed with the blood streaming down their faces. This creature, which was named the 'Cremo do Mentho,' waddled forward over the old German trenches toward the redoubt. "The enemy was momentarily silent, and then spasms of machine-gun fire splashed the sides of tho 'Crcmc do Menthe,' but they fell harmlessly to tho ground. Tho 'Cremc do Menthe' advanced upon the broken wall and leaned against it. Tho bricks crashed down, and then tho motor walked into the heart of the factory ruins. Tho motor poured forth a stream of bullets, trampled the machine-gun cmplacements, crushod the machine-guns, and killed tho teams. "Our infantry fcllowcd, and occupied the redoubt. "Similar scenes occurred at High Wood, where our men were for a time ariven back. Then there was great joy on their seeing several 'tanks' advancing through tho wood and on each eide of it. "Wounded soldiers relate extraordinary stories. They declare that the 'tanks' broke down trees and mounted barricades. Thcro was a stampede out oi the dugouts, and the Bodies, thoroughly scared, ran about shouting like demented men. "During tho attack on Martinpuich, machine-guns held up our infantry on the outskirts of tho village. Two 'tanks' which had already passed the British front lino in the darkness, now crawled through 'No Man's Land,' and nosed into tho walls of Martinpuich, testing their strength. They were broken down like wooden barns, and twenty minutes later our infantry was inside the first trenches of Martinpuich, with the monster still waddling ahead. "One hundred Germans confronted another 'tank,' shouting 'Mercy.' The 'tank' led a procession of its prisoners to the British lines.

"The first news of the success which had been "won at Flers was an airman's wireless messago: 'A "tank" is walking up the Flers High street, with the British Army cheering behind it.'

"This was an actual fact. One of the motor monsters was there enjoying itself thoroughly, and forcing the <meruy to keep their heads down. It had hung out a large placard on which were the words: 'Great Hun defeat. Special!'

"Meanwhile, aeroplanes fiew over the scared Germans who wero fleeing before

the monstrous appaiit-'on, pouring in a deadly machine-gun fire."

The nickname, "Creme de Menthe," taken from tho well-known French hqueur, suggests that the "tanks'' are of a bright green colour.

A "JUGGERNAUT."

AN AMERICAN DESCRIPTION

NEW YORK. September 17. Mr Frederick Palmer, correspondent of the American Associated Press at British Headquarters, in cablegrams describing the advance, says:— '[Fire-spouting cars- like prehistoric monsters of strange shapes" trundled across shell craters, and over tree stumps, cutting down many small trees. There had been much speculation as to how the new device would work. 'When the 'tanks' returned the crews enthusiastically compared notes as t<» their achievements. Some described the device as a harvester mowing down everything in its path. A Staff .officer spoko of the machine as 'stopping to browse' at tho edge of a wood before advancing. One hundred Prussians surrendered in a body to one m.T-hine crew."

Mr Palmer adds: "It is generally agreed that the new juggernaut has made good."

ENEMY IN A PANIC

GROUND ABANDONED HURRIEDLY.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, September 17. The "Daily Chronicle's" Paris correspondent states that the British advance was most rapid in the direction of Flers. The new armoured cars, starting from Delville Wood, rained iron on the defender's new units, which were ceaselessly thrown into tho fight along the whole front. After taking the first lines the British found themselves in front of new defences, well-armoured and strongly manned. It was only when the enemy was disheartened by terrible losses and the arrival of fresh troops that ground was abandoned in a state of- panic.

The capture of Courcellctte was ono of the most brilliant feats of the battle. The contest had been proceeding since the morning. The result "nas still uncertain, as the enemy was receiving strong reinforcements by the AlbertBapaume road. British columns attacked the village early in the afternoon, and the British and Bavarians fought in the streets with revolvers, knives, and fists. Tho garrison, unable to further resist t*ie assailants' fury, surrendered in despair. The fighting at Martinpuich was very hard. The commander, in surrendering his battalion, confessed "that it was impossible to withstand the irresistible British push.

JOY IN FRANCE

BRITISH METHODS EULOGISED

LONDON, September 17. Tho Paris correspondent of the "Weekly Despatch" states that all France is rejoicing at the British victo ries. Newspapers' headlines tell of the "splendid British advance," "magnificent success on the. Soinine." and state that the Allied stock has risen several points.

The soldiers call the new armoured cars "Trojan Horses." The French eulogise the British policy of sacrificing any amount of material rather than unnecessarily risking soldiers' lives. The advent of the armoured cars is hailed as a sign that the end of trench warfare is approaching, and that the British are getting well into the open.

IN SIGHT OF PEACi

VIEWS OF MR H. G. WELLS.

NEW YORK, September 17. Mr H. G. Wells, writing in the "New York World," predicts that the war will end in June.

He declares that tho German line in the Wesl will give way before November. The Allies will insist on reparation and- indemnity to Belgium, the granting of Constantinople to Russia, Alsace to France, and tho dismemberment of Austria in the interests of Italy and others. GENERAL DISMISSED. ("The. Timea.' - ) (Received Septembor 19th, 1.5 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, September 18. Tho "Frankfurter Zeitung" announces the dismissal of. General Haemiach the commander of tho 14th Army Corps.