The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-11-30
H|NDENBURG LINE
SMASHED BY HA|G.
MAXIMUM GAIN OF FIVE MILES
is MADE IN DAsHING At
TACK BY BRITONS.
NO ARTILLERY PREPARATION
Huns Completely Surprised by Sud-
denness of Attack.-Germans
Attempting to Stem Ad-
vance.-Cavalry Active.

London, Nov. 24.-The great Hin.
denburg defense line on which the
German commander in chief had build
ed his hopes of holding the British
from inroads into the open territory
beyond, has been smashed. And the
task, apparently, was an easy one.
For the first time since last spring
cavalry has been used by the allies.
Attacking over a front of 81 miles,
extending from the Scarpe river east
of Arras to st. Quentin, Field Marshal
Haig, with his English, Scottish, Irish
and Welsh troops, has made on of the
most rapid and spectacular drives of
the present war, catching the Germans
by surprise in the onslaught, captur-
impregnable and taking, in addition,
1900 prisoners and numerous guns.
The apex of the offensive, appar-
emily, is centered on the important
railway junction of Cambria, lying to
the east of the old line midway be-
tween Arras and st. Quentin. Here,
having taken the towns of Marcoing,
Anneux, Graincourt and Novelties, the
victorious troops are on the very
threshold of Cambria, with its rail
road ines and roadways branching out
toward all the main points of the COM
pass.
The Germans are fighting bitterly
to recapture lost terrain and to hold
back further incursiOns into their line
The fighting apparently is between the
opposing British advance and the Ger
man rear guard, for the major portion
of General Byng's army evidently is
engaged in consolidating the terri
tory already won and preparing for
another dash forward when the time
is opportune.
Although the British are busily en-
gagged in the Cambria sector, Field
Marshal Haig has not overlooked a
chance again to stab the German line
in Flanders. Southeast of Ypres the
British have thrown forward their line
slightly. On the southern front the
Germans have delivered several small
attacks against the French in the
Aisne region, northwest of Rheims and
in champagne, but all of them were
repulsed by the French artillery.
An indication that the German forti-
fled line has been passed by the Brit
ish at some points is the entry of
the cavalry into the fray. Not since
the famous retreat of the Germans
along the Ancre and the Somme in the |
spring of the present year have the |
horsemen been engaged. At that time |
they performed valiant service in har-
RAISING the retreating columns and in
up prisoners.
No Artillery Prelude.
The British drive was begun without
the usual artillery prelude, and as
the tanks and infantrymen made their
way through the wire entanglements
and pressed into the German first po-
sitions the surprised enemy began
sending up myriads of signal rockets
calling for assistance. Whether aid
was rushed up is not definitely known,
but seemingly the surprised Germans
fled in disorder. leaving all kinds of
equipment behind, and in most cases
1lU not even take llHle, as is usual, TO
apply the torch to villages they evacu.
ated.
British Casualties Light.
The British casualties were describ-
I'd as extremely light, while German
lead covered the ground as the British
pressed forward. Reports to date in
licate that the depth of penetration |
n the region of Cambria has exceeded {
i've miles, and that at one point at t
east the troops swept on five miles t
beyond the German lines, capturing I
additional villages. {
General Pershing There. {
The Offense was under direct COM
nand of General Sir Julian Hedworth t
feneral George Byng, and General
ohm J. Pershing, commander in chief !
f the. American forces in France, was 9
n interested observer of it.
f4mL x M |