Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1918 — YANKEES HELP BRITISH DRIVE GERMANS BACK [ARTICLE]

YANKEES HELP BRITISH DRIVE GERMANS BACK

Assist Australians In Advance on Four-Mils Front In Somme Sector. TANKS ARE USED IN BATTLE . i, Enemy’s Positions Peiiet ratjed to Depth of Mile, and One-Jlalf, in Fourth of July Attack—Allies Take 2,500 Hun Prisoners. London, July s.—Detachments ot American infantry assisted the Australians in capturing Hamel. This an« nouncement was made officially. Attacking on a front of nearly four miles, between Vlllers-Bretonneaux and the Somme, the British advanced an average depth of nearly a mile and a half, capturing the village of Hamel, Field Marshal Haig reported. The British also have captured Vaire wood, it was learned authoritatively. Vaire wood Is located about one mile south ofjlamel. Tanks Used in Battle. The British have taken more than 1,500 prisoners in their attack on Hamel. The Australians went over the top In the early- niorning behind a fleet of tanks which led the way Into the hostile territory. It was a difficult task: they had before them, for the Germans were holding the village of Hamel and Vaire and Hamel woods with strong forces. The hamlet and the little forests, all of widt h lie on comparatively high ground, were choked with machine guns, while a large concentration of German artillery was train-* ed along this sector. As a tribute to America the Austra-t Ilans had designated their drive « Fourth of July attack, and yesterday was set as the time for the operation; because it was the American .anniyer-* sary. v French Gain Ground. Paris, July s.—The French delivered a strong thrust near Moulln-Sous-Touvent, northwest of Soissons, on the so-called Marne front, which Jhrewi the Germans back several hundred yards. Describing this attack, the war ofs flee statement says: “Between the Oise ami the Alsno our troops attacked the German lineh west of Autreches on a front of twoi kilometers (one and a quarter miles), and advanced their positions 800 me-* tefs (nearly half a mile). “In the evening a new attack be-* tween Autreches and Moulln-Sous-Tou-* vent was launched Just at the time tjier Germans were about to attack. This resulted In a gain of ground on a total front of five kilometers, which reached a depth of 1,200 meters (a mile) at certain points. “We took 1,066 prisoners, Including 18 officers.”