British press on in storm
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES AFIELD, April 10 — There is every reason to believe that by tonight the great British smash will have yielded Field Marshal Haig 15,000 prisoners and between fifty and one hundred guns. The driving force of the great offensive was undiminished today, even with bitter opposition from the enemy.
While these figures are unofficial, they are based on careful estimates and calculations.
The British have advanced to a point four miles to the east of Arras and have stormed four systems of trenches along the north bank of the Scarpe to Briond, which were famous for their boasted strength.
Germans’ last line
To the south of the Scarpe, today the British were facing the last systems of the German line, which is nearly opposite the famous “Hindenburg line.” From this point to the fighting front runs by Feuchy Chapelle to the east to Neuville Vitasse and southward. All along in this section the troops are now facing the Hindenburg defenses.
The fighting had not slackened in the slightest degrees today. The troops are immensely pleased to be moving again, after the inaction of trench warfare.
The “spring offensive” comes, oddly enough, in the coldest April weather in fifty years, to the accompaniment of a gale blowing snow and sleet, which bites stingingly into the faces of the men but fails to dampen their spirits. When the “push” started, one could hear thousands marching through the blackness of the night, singing and joking.
Prisoners continued to pour back of the lines — most of them Wurtembergers, Hamburgers and Bavarians. They appeared quite cheerful — even the many officers in the bunch.
» Expect to have fifteen thousand prisoners by this evening » Facing last German defence line to south of the Scarpe » Long distance barrage fire » How plans for counter-attack on Vimy Ridge were spoiled » Clearing weather enabled airmen to detect German re-enforcing column