The Robesonian., 1917-11-26
CRIPPLES THROWN INTO
BATTLE BY GERMANS
Two Companies of Cripplies and
Convalescents Thrown Into Line
in Effort to Stop British Ad-
vance-British in 2 Days Over
ran Area Equal in Size to That
Won by Germans in Is Days Of
Spectacular Drive on Verdun.

From British army headquarters in
France an Associated Press dispatch
of the 22nd gives the following:
The success of the British arms in
the Cambria sector has continued to
grow steadily, and Field Marshal
Haig's troops in a little more than
two days fighting have overrun an
era equal in size to that won by the
Germans during the first Is days Of
their spectacular drive on Verdun.
were battling their way forward along
a line which, at many points west and
southwest of Cambria was less than
three miles from that important
town. The advance also was spread
ing northward in the region of Bulle
court and the salient toward Cambria
was being widened. The total of pris-
oners captured must approach the g.
900 mark.
At last the British and Germans are
at grips on compare lively open ground
and some of the fiercest hand fight
ing Of the war has been going on. The
enemy troops were unprepared for the
attack but they have been putting
every ounce Of their strength into an
attempt to stop the rising tide.
Troops have been pulled away from
other points and rushed to the Cam
brai sector by the Germans and so
hard pressed were they for men that
two companies of cripples and con-
valescents were recruited hastily at
one camp and thrown into the line in
the region of Masnires. Some of
these pitiful objects are in British
hands and are receiving medical treat
ment. One prisoner was in the last
stages of tuberculosis and he had to
be moved to prevent the disease from
spreading to the others, who were in
state of cruel exhaustion and virtu-
ally helpless from their valient at
tempts to fight under the lash of theil
unrelenting officers.
The great battlefield has taken OF
the aspect of scenes in wars gone by
1t is no longer a conflict of trenches
and shell holes, but of men struggling
bitterly with rifles and bayonets owe
virgin battle ground, while the lon.
neglected cavalry sweeps against tn
enemy positions over the wide terri
tory involved.
The roads everywhere for two day
have been swarming with advancin
troops and with prisoners and civil
ians coming back from the from
Many rejoicing non-combatants, mel
women and children, have been pou1
ing out of the captured towns unde
the guidance of their deliverers frol
German bondage.
This has been a battle of strane
sights but no more striking spectac
has been witnessed than that of thes
people marching toward homes az
comfort back Of the British line
Through the very gaps which tt
tanks had torn in the famous Hinde
burg slime, mothers yesterday and t
day we're pushing baby carriages CO
tainiag infants or tramping happi
along, with their babies clutched
their breasts. Besides them toddl
othersyoungsters, many of them ca
ryiag,their treasured dolls and not
few cainging determinedly to squirl
ing puppies which they dared n
trust to run on the ground. Old m
and women were bringing away
the household effects they could pa
on push carts or carry on their bacl
For. three years they had been
captivity and some of them in slavel
They had been subsisting on the bot
ty of the American Relief commit
which, furnished them virtually t
only food they obtained.
Hard fighting has taken place :.
Gay az Crevecoeur, southeast of M;
nieress. The British were holding
high Eide in front of this place, a
49,. -.7----- 3, =. y 4.