PRISONERS IN SWARMS

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 57, 4 September 1918, Page 7

PRISONERS IN SWARMS

THEY ADMIT GERMANY IS BEATEN

THE HARDEST FIGHTING FOR MONTHS PAST

(Received September 4, 10 a.m.)

LONDON, 3rd September. The United Press Agency's correspondent states that thousands of German prisoners are swarming down the roads like sheep. Such disheartened masses of captives have seldom been seen since the war began. The Germans in the front line ran screaming before the first assault, throwing up their hands. They admit that Germany is xbeaten, but this does not mean that today's battle was a triumphant parade for the Canadians, English, and Scottish ■troops. On the contrary, some of the hardest fighting recorded for months occurred before the important stretch of the Hindenburg line reported to have been crossed. The Germans threw in great masses to stop the ga.ps, and fought murderously at some points; but the German masses contained elements , of fatal weakness, including worn-out divisions from Bapaume and Bullecourt. But further masses are coming up, and much fighting still remains to be done. Our Buccess in overcoming the deep_ wire barriers was due largely to tho instantaneous fuse shells clearing the wire, but scarcely disturbing the earth, and to the tanks, which iplayed a big part. ' The miscellaneous character of the present German line is shown by the fact that the Lancashires took prisoners from six different divisions on a front of two thousand yards. Incidents of the day include the feat of a machine-gun sergeant, who killed sixty Germans at Hendecourt.