THE WAR

Evening Star, Issue 16823, 27 August 1918, Page 4

THE WAR

BRITISH TANKS AND GERMAN MACHINE GUNS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, August 26. (Received August 27, iat 1.20 p.m.)

Mr Murdoch, writing from Australian Hoadquartere, says: The machine (June employed by tho Germans against the nu.straiians were so thick that tiro first waves of attackers passed scores of them, so that in mopping tkom up they had the bloodiest lighting oi tho day, stalking the gunners and collecting hundreds of quivering Bodies from the dug-outs. Some of tho Germans attacked the advancing tanks, and pelted them with bullets until they had not on inch of surface unmarked, and tho bullets were sticking out of the armor thickly. On© tank broke down, and had the Bodies clambering over _ it, sticking pistols into the openings; while mad Germans assaile-d another with their bayonets, pricking its sides until they were shot down. LONDON, August 26.

Mr Robinson writes: Evidence of considerable enemy demoralisation is seen in their throwing in all sorts of scratch troops with tho hope of checking the advance, but these bewildered units are cut off and captured before they are aware that they are in a battle. Scraps of battalions and remnants of shattered divisions are being captured, mixed up with other troops in endless confusion. Captured Gorman officers did not attempt to minimise the gravity of the catastrophe. The enemy wore forewarned of the Australian advance below the Somme, and massed their machine guns, which averaged ono to every two yards. Tho preliminary advance of the tanks largely neutralised them. Tho Gormans are now thoroughly afraid of the tanks, and fairly have them on the brain, as captured documents reveal, reporting their presence in all sorts of places where our tanks never readied. German officers rebuke us as being ungeutlcinanly for using tanks, to which they are unable to surrender. They bitterly complain that they are compelled to chose the tanks like buses, hailing them to stop and take them aboard. Bun tho tanks refused te> stop, and went on, crushing the machine-gun nests. All prisoners practically agree that Germany’s ultimate victory is now impossible : but if the. Allies mean to crush her utterly Germany will fight on for one or two years. “GREAT PURSUING WEATHER.” LONDON, August 26. Mr Beach Thomas writes; It is great pursuing weather, though only men of the best physique can bear tho strain. The British, Australian, and New Zealand troops are still quite untired, and reluctant to be relieved. They may be scon dariiing forward and cutting off tho retreat of men, transport, and guns. It is a wonderful sight to see bur soldiers trooping forward without noticing hundreds of Germans eager and anxious to surrender. Ono of the boldest strokes on the Australian front was the wading and swimming of tho Ancre in the night time below Grand - court, and the subsequent unsupported advance to the east-ward. Groups of men readied 7’v,s and wore emire-Iv surrounded by Germans, who were too scared to attack by that time.