BRITISH ARMOURED CARS

Nelson Evening Mail, 18 September 1916, Page 5

BRITISH ARMOURED CARS

PLAY .IMP.OiRT.TNT PART IN THiE , ATTACK. THE OPERATIONS DESCRIBED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Rec. Sept". IS, 8.55 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 17. ' The SDaily Chronicle's Paris correspondent states that the British adva_T.V was most rapid in the direction of Flers New armoured cars, starting from De ville Wood, rained iron on the defender?. New omits were ceaselessly -thrown into ■the fight along the whole front. After taking the first lines the British foundVthemselves in front' of new de fences" weir armoured ar.-l" .<tron-jlj manned 1 . Only when the enemy was disheartened "by the terrible losses a;d thv arrival of fresh troops, was the ground abandoned in a state of panic. The .capture of Courcellette was one of the most 'brilliant feats of the contestIt has 'been proceeding since the morning and l the result is still uncurtain, as •the enemy is receiving strong reinforcements bv lbs Avbert-Bapaume road. (British columns attacked the villTre early in the afternoon and British and Bavarians fought in the streets witli revolvers, krives and- fists. The garrison was unable to further resist their assailants' fury and' surrendered in despair. The fighting aj. M.artinpuich was very "hard-. The -.•ommander. in surrendering a battalion, confessed t.bat it was impossible .to withstand the irresistible British .pus-h. ALL FRANCE REJOiriNC. (E,ec. Sept. 18. 8.55 a.m.) LONDON. .Sept. 17. The Weeklyi -Despr.tr h Paris corrcspoDd'ent states that all France is rejoicing in the British victories. Newspapers' •headlines recall the splendid British advance and the magnificent success on the Somme. AJftiedi.stock 'has risen several points. iSoHiers call tjie new armoured cars Troiaa horses. The French eulogise the British policy of sacrificing any amount of material ■rather than unnecessarily risk their soldiers* lives. The advent of cars is hailed as a sign that.the end of trench, warfare is approaefhing. The are getting into •the open.

[THE IXWFATIOX "MAKES GOOD. 7 ' (lice. Sept, 18. 9.45 a.m.) X!E\V YORK. Sept, 17. All- Frederick Palmer, American correspondent who is at the British Headquarters, cabled that fire was spouting from the car like a prehistoric monster of strange shapes which trundled across shell Waters and over tree stumps, cutting down many small trees. There had been much speculation as to how the now device would work. When the "•tanks" returned', the crews enthusiastically com_pared note of the achievements on the Somrne. They described the device as a harvester mowing down everything in its path. A staff officer spoke of the machine as .stopping to browse at the edge of a Wood before advancing. A hundred Prussians surrendered in a body to one maehine crew. Air Palmer adds: "It is generally agreed that the new juggernaut lias made good." .BOMB .DiROPPIXfG- ACTIVITY. (■Uo>\ Sept, 18. 11.20 a.m.). LOXTJOX. Sept. 17. A French eommunique states : —There, is only artillery activity in the Berny nnd Vermando Yiliers >ector. We dropped 15. bombs on a hangar at Hatsheim, 250 en the railway station and aerodrome at Tergniel. 32 on the railway station at A'bbecourt. 72 on the railwp.v stations at Roisel. Epehy and Athies.