Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-21
OVER TOP IN BIG
SURPRISE FOR TEUTON

Continued From Page One)
troops stormed the village OF RIbe-
court and fought their way through
Couillet wood.
Highland territorial battaiions
crossed the Grand rayiDe and entered
F,esquieres. where fierce fighting took
Mace. The west riding territorials
raptnred HayrincOurt and the German
trench systems north of the village
while the Ulster battalions, covering
,he lstter's left flank, moved north
wards up the west bank, Of the canal
Du Nord
English, Irish. Scotch, welsh.
Later in the morning our advance
was continued and rapid progress was
made az ali points. English, scot
fish. Irish and Welsh battau0ns Sc
cured the crossings on the canal st
Masnieres and captured Marcoing and
Neuf wood.
"The west riding troops who had
taken Hayrincourt, made remarkable
progress east Of the canal Du N0rd.
storming the villages Of Graincourt
and Anneux, and, with the whole Ger
man line northward TO the Bapaume-
Cambria road.
West Lancaster territorials broke
into the enemy's positions east OF
Epehy and Irish troops have captured
important sections of the Hindenburg
line between Bullecourt and Fontaine
Les Croiselles.
"The number Of prisoners, guns and
material captured cannot yet be est
mated
THE spell of fine dull weather
which favored our preparations for
our attacks, broke early yesterday,
heavy rain fell during the night and
the weather is now stormy.
French Take Prisoners.
Paris, Nov. 2l.-"During the night
we made several successful incursions
into the German lines north and
south of St Quentin and brought back
prisoners" say today's official state
ment.
Toward the end of the night, the
artillery duel became very violent in
the region of chaume wood, There is
nothing to report elsewhere
Berlin Admits Losses.
Berlin, Nov. q (via London Ger
man reserves checked the British in
the rear positions after ground had
been gained by the attackers, says to-
days official communication. The loss
IS announced Of Marcoing Graincourt
and portions of the permanently es-
tablished works.
Capture support" Line.
London, Nov. 21.--The second sys
tenn of German defenses cap
tured by the British is known
as the Hndenburg support line
The British captured Benavis
Lameal wood. La Vacquerie. the de
lenses known as Welsh ridge anC
Ribecourt cillage. Their operation
are continuing.
The British drive covers a part o
the field Of last years offensive on tn
Somme and the section Of the ARA
battle front south OF Arras.
The British centre IN this thrust /
nearly opposite Cambria, the import
ant German base and railway centre
from which the British fine on Ia
Bapaume-Cambrai road was abou
nine miles distant as II had stood 70
several months past. The main fore
OF the push Just launched is apparent
~ aimed at Cambria along the road.
What is known as the Hindenbur
line was established by the Germa
command last spring when the famou
strategic retreat on the Somm
front was carried out. 1t was a SUI
isear, ~ lsaH saf - srs
had been in careful preparation. Th
British and French, however. Shove
in the Arras battle last spring and /
the French drive on the Aisne fror
that the line WIS by no means a bar [
their progress and serious iDroad
were made upon IL In various attack
on both these fronts. No deiinit
break. however. sufficient to perm
the penetration OF large force whic
could debouch for large field opera
tons had ever been effected.
Almost Without Warning.
The British movement in its earl
phases gives the appearance Of bein
the most ambitious that has been III
dertaken by them on the wester
front since the creation OF their ne
armies gave them the power to stril
effective blows. The attack came a
most without warning, the only pr,
monitory symptoms being a system
somewhat elaborate trench raid
Even the rather extensive operation
in this sector reported last night |
the British war Office, which the &c
man stan announced 1t had take
measures to meet. gave hardly a hi,
that push in any such force or ov'
such a wide extent OF front was
prospect.
There has been little speculate