TANKS GO ASTRAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12405, 24 August 1918, Page 9

TANKS GO ASTRAY.

I . ____ 1 1 LOST IN THE MIST. Australian and N.A. Cable Association, (Received August 24, 10 a.m.) , LONDON, August 2,' i. | ilr H. W. Novinson, cabling at noun lon Thursday, says:—The prisoners in | to-day’s advance already total 2d(JO ' and wo captured three guns. The numI her would have been larger, but the j Germans withdrew the gums immediate- ! I.Y hhc attack began. Miranmont is .not occupied, but is becoming encircled ' and is full of gas. Some of our tanks 1 , arc reported to be across the raihva\, ' and wore seen along the IJapaume road. Their fate is unknown. The heaviest fighting occurred at Cum- , cellos and Beaiirogard-Dovecote, which is north-westward of Miranmont. Tin casualties were slight, and the prisoners taken by most of the division ontnum- ; , bored their casualties. !■ tiller details of yesterday's lightin" ' show that the mist saved ‘many hum dreds of British lives, because tire German imantiy and machine-gunners could not see the nssanlriucr troops un- : til they were close upon litem. Vert ■ naturally, however, onr tanks haf- : (n lions lost their direct inn, and heea-me confused during the attack. Wo look • Moyenneville without difficulty,’ and i proceeded towards the railwnv.' ' It . stated that, the tanks crossed tiro rail- ; way line, hut were lost in the fog he. 1 | vuiul. Tht' .struggle for the rad way ' 1 ;

lastill six o'clock in tlio evening, when it was gained. AVo arc now liokU nig tho ridgo a mile beyond. floine of onr troops on the left worn badly gassod by shells during tho assembly, sliownig that the enemy on tins part of tho lino was less surprised than olsetvfioro. Prisoners taken at Lpgeast Wood declare that their pari of tlio German army is in good condition, and well fed, but there is a great shortage of first nontenants, and .this gives an indication ot the drainage on Germany's best .voting blood. There was some opposition at Ahianizovillo, Bucquny and Achiet lo 1 ot it, but Imrclly any at. I'uisioux. I lio division attacking Achiet-le-Grand did not. quite succeed in taking it, and the enemy still this afternoon held the radway cutting southward of the town. Phis is unfortunate, because tho line curves westward and threatens to expose our right flank. Wo put down a barrage hero at midday to-day, preparatory to an assault. AA o filled the. ruins of Irles, across tho railway, and Mirnnmoni with gas. I ho latter is not directly attacked, and no one would now wisli to enter that once-admired place. Tho heaviest fighting on AVednesday and AVednesday night, and Thursday was in tho neighbourhood of Serve anil Dovecote. Onr forward battery at Soi re was heavily gassed. To-day coun-ter-attacks, including one by' fresh divisions from Morris, failed. Aoioplaiics have .done groat service, bombing transport and conunnnieations. They pursued and destroyed a train.