The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-28
SUMTER s. c., WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2s 1917
WONDERFUL FIGHTING MACHINE
TANKS WORK IN SMASHING
THROUGH HINDENBURG LINE.
Tore Through Barbed Wire Artillery
Would Have Required Days to De-
strOy.


British Army Headquarters, France,
Nov. 22.-(By the Associated Press
The impression which existed in
the minds of many soldiers that the
British tanks were freaks of little
value as instruments of war is being
wiped out on account Of the achieve
ments Of the great army of these
mighty engines which on Tuesday
morning, broke through the main
Hindenburg line and carried the war
miles into enemy territory. The work
which the tanks did that day and
have been doing since is one of the
most striking features of the war. 1t
cannot be said that they are alone
responsible for the tremendous VIC
tory won by the British, for infantry.
artillery and cavalry all have played
their part. Nevertheless, the tanks
drove the entering wedge, without
which this triumph probably would
have been impossible.
In n few hours they tore to shreds
lines OF barbed wire. the demolition
of which by a concentration Of artil-
lery would have required many days.
Furthermore, their employment made
possible the arrangement of the Sc
cret attack. which would have been
out OF the question had the artillery
been brought into play.
The tanks have demonstrated fully
their power in saving the lives of
men and in conserving ammunition.
The casualties among the infantry
which followed the tanks into action
were exceedingly light. The cores
pondent has heard that two battal-
ions. for instance, had only one cas-
ualty each. and that another suffered
the loss of only three men. This is
almost unprecedented in an attack of
such magnitude.
| The casualties among the crews
OF the tanks were very light on the
opening day. which is the only one
for which reports have thus far been
received. 1t is impossible to state
how many tanks were in action. bu,
there were several hundred, and ou,
OF all the men who went forward in
them 1t appears that less than 2C
were killed and less than 100 wound.
ed. Many Of these casualties were
due to the fact that men left tho
tanks to perform their work in thu
.sopen. where they came under the fire
of snipers.
! The performance of the tanks was
the more remarkable because ther,
was only short time TO prepare 70,
their use. Some of the tanks ha6
never been in an engagement before
and the crews lacked actual fightins
experience. Moreover, it was neces
sary to train the infantry TO coopera,,
with them.
In addition. a great amount OF
work was done to get the tanks into
position and bring forward their fuel
Many hundreds of tons Of petrol were
brought up secretly and stored pend
ing the attack. 1t was done so quiet
ly that few soldiers in the territory
involved knew what was proceeding.
The advance OF tanks, with their
general leading the way in a monitor
lying his flag, was the most impress
i've sight imaginable. For miles they
were lined along the British front.
and when they started forward it was
IKE great ceremonial parade Back
OF them came the infantry, giving the
final touch to the picture.
Tanks have been engaged in some
bittle fighting since they entered the
enemy territory. The stiffest fighting
was at Lateau wood, south of Mas
nieres. There the tanks engaged n
number of German field and heavy
guns and won the day against them
one tank deliberately charged q So
inch gun and cleaned out it's crew
with it's machine guns.
Cataing fell before one tank. 1t
charged into the village. making it
untenable by the vigoi GUS action of
it's guns. Twelve tanks led the way
into Marcoing.
AT Ribecourt the +cnks a:ri> ed just