The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-22
Iron Monsters Made Latest
British Victory Neal
Cambria Possible
CAVALRY ALSO
USED IN ATTACK
Surprise Movement Had
Many Unusual and
Thrilling Features


British Army Headquarters in
France. Wednesday. Nov. 2i.-The
present battle more than any other
in the western theater has taken on
the SAVIOR Of lighting In other wars
when men struggled in the open and
cavalry made thrilling charges
against enemy guns. Many military
critics have long contended that
cavalry was q thing OF the past but
the mounted men have refuted this
claim.
Field Marshal Haig has clung 70
his horse troops throughout the
weary months OF trench lighting. He
believed that some day he would
have a chance to use them and his
judgment has been vindicated.
Field Marshal Haigs blow against
the Cambria front represents true
strategy. He had hammered at the
enemy in Flanders until they were
worn out completely. He had driven
them back as far as the mud would
permit and had compelled them 20
call on every ounce OF strength they
had TO maintain themselves. Then
he suddenly sprung his surprise at
tack in an unexpected quarter.
Strongest in West.
The Hindenburg lines on the
Cambrai front were the strongest
the Germans had laid out in the west.
The enemy considered them impreg-
nable. Not only were they strongly
fortified but they were protected BY
a deep belt Of barbed wire. which IL
was thought that only a protracted
bombardment by great Concentrated
guns would cut sufficiently 10 allow
the infantry TO go through.
British tanks had never before
been called ufan for such extensive
work but they did in a few hours
what the artillery would have re-
quired days TO accomplish. The Him
denburg line was pierced absolutely
on q wide front and TO a greater
depth than ever before.
The correspondent today inspected
the main HindenburR line near Hav-
rincourt and saw the amazing work
done by the iron monsters. In most
places they had no trouble either IN
tearing through the wire or in cross
Ing trenches. There were gaps IN
the wire entanglements a rod in
width where not one vestige OF wire
was left standing and by following
the tracks Of the tanks one could
see where they had trundied across
the trenches as though they were
merely scratches in the ground fn-
stead OF wide. deep bitches.
Under German Fire.
The tanks, OF course, went through
NO Mans Land under the fun obner-
walton OF the German artillery and
while the gun Ore was weak. some
fire was directed on the tanks as they
advanced. It was interesting 70 fol-
low the trail OF the tanks and 70 see
where shells had struck ali about.
apparently without doing any dam
age. for in this whole section the
correspondent did not see one tank
which had been knocked out.
The condition OF the German
trenches showed plainly that the oc-
cupants had abandoned them In a
hurry. All sorts OF equipment and
personal belongings Btrewsd the
ground.
Since the beginning OF the attack
the gunfire had been extremely
weak. No Mans Land showed COM
paratively few shell craters and this
morning the British guns were do
ing virtually all the firing along
most Of the front involved. This is a
striking contrast TO the Flanders
region, which has been an inferno
OF artillery fire for weeks.
The Germans have attempted very
few counter attacks thus far and All
of them have been smashed. THE Iaf-
est counter thrust reported waa
made last night near Demicourt and
this was dealt with promptly.
The Germans who at the first at
tack yesterday retreated OF sur
rendered In dismay, were fighting
desperately today TO regain q hold
on their rear positions. IA particular
ly desperate hand -to-hand enrans-
ment occurred this morning a
Flesquieres. when the infantry. ncs
companied by tanks, stormed this
place and drove the Germans from
The fighting about F1esquieres be-
gan last night but IL was not until
about O'Clock today that the Britt
ish made an organized assault on
the town. The tanks went ahead and
were engaged Immediately bV seven
heavy German guns which began "a
hre at them pointblank az short
range. II was q critical moment for
while the tanks will Withstand heavy
fire they cannot be expected TO stand
up long under big shells hurled from
guns only a short distance away
Charge Artillery.
The British infantry which swarm
ed through behind the tanks saw che
predicament Of their iron friends and
deliberately charged the enemy
artillery with rifles and hand
grenades. All the guns were can-
tured and their crews were kiii-
ed.
A similar incident occurred at
Prenly Chappeile, northwest or Mar
Going, where three guns were storm
ed and their crews annihilated. Some
Of the most spectacular work of this
nature fell ID the cavalry. The