21/8/1918 Britain attacks on the Somme as Haig begins to scent victory

The Allies are piling the pressure on the Germans, hoping to prevent them from consolidating a strong defensive line. The French have been attacking in the Aisne sector, under the command of Mangin, and have dealt another hammer-blow to the enemy. Now it is the turn of the British and their Commonwealth Allies. They attack today over the site of the 1916 Somme battle, once again attacking through fog behind a creeping barrage, supported by tanks. Progress is not quite so spectacular as at Amiens: German resistance seems a bit more stiff while the thick fog leads to confusion as advancing units get lost. Nevertheless, Allied commanders are pleased enough with the progress.

Much of the Allied success is coming from improved tactics on the battlefield. They have greatly improved their artillery tactics, with creeping barrages more closely matching the pace of the advancing troops. Tanks too are being…