THE NEW GREAT BATTLE

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11610, 9 August 1918, Page 8

THE NEW GREAT BATTLE

BRITISH ATTACK IT DAWN FRENCH FOLLOW SUIT INCONVENIENT WEALTH OF PRISONERS Received August 9, 1.15 P- m - Renter. London, August S. Reuter’s correspondent Bt British Headquarters reports than the Bri • tisli delivered a baavy attack at dawn this morning, south of the Ancre. The French shortly afterwards took up thoibattleb The mam weight of the effort is directed against Von Hutier’s Eighteenth Army. The battle opened with a three minutes’ bombardment Then a barrage crept forward, heavy guns concentrating on obstinate points of resistance. Some hundreds cf tanks advanced as Tiie ini'aiiTry went forward. The enemy was mostly taken by surprise. Our Tanks crossed the Avre, working towards the more difficult ground in the Euce alley. The French also report good progress. Their prisoners admit a complete surprise. Wo are taking prisoners more than wo know how to deal with. The smartnes and secrecy of our concentration was (ho main cause ct initial success. DERMA 8 TRAPS IN EVACUATED TRENCHES VAST BOOTY LEFT BEHIND United Service. London, August 8. Mr Raymond Carroß, correspondent with the Americans, describes murder tiaps found in evacuated territory. Bulbs and bi"dders were found in buildings and dug outs,

tuider helmets ami in loaves of liretid. When touched these exploded. A cunt'iin was approaching an liotel when a German cllicer walked out ami offered to sanender. The American covered him with his revolver ami jumped aside, barely in time to escape a rain of bullets from a machine guu hidden in the cellar of an abandoned hospital. Enemy left .oils of crepe paper, which has taken the place of cloth far dressings. The remains of some hurued harness showed it had been made of a, composition of paper and hemp There were many abandoned motor cars, fitted with iron tyres Flames from burning ammunition dumps woke the Germans; They were so bright that it was almost possible to read newspapers. The whole horizon at night was a succession of gigantic red patches with occasional rears of exploding ammunition. Millions of dollars worth of supplies were destroyed.