South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-11-24
Tanks Charge Into Battle by Hundreds;
Tear German Defense Lines Into Shreds

exploits is told it will make remark
able history.
Looks Like Days OF Old.
The great battle field has taken
on the aspects of scenes in wars
gone by. 1t is no longer q conflict
of trenches and shell holes, but of
men struggling bitterly with rifles
and bayonets over a virgin battle
ground, while the long neglected
cavalry sweeps in picturesque
charges against the enemy positions
over the wide territory involved.
The roads everywhere for two
days have been swarming with ad-
vancing troops and with prisoners
and civilians coming back from the
front. Many rejoicing hon-com-
batants, men. women and children,
have been pouring out Of the cap
tured towns under the guidance Of
their deliverers from German bond
age.
Thousands are Freed.
This has been a battle of strange
sights. but no more striking spec
tacle has been witnessed than that
of these people marching toward
homes and comfort back of the
British front. Through the very
gaps which the tanks had torn in
the famous Hindenburg line. moth
ers yesterday and today were push
ing baby carriages containing in
fants or tramping happily along
with their babies clutched to their
breasts. Besides them toddled other
youngsters many of them carrying
their treasured dolls and not a few
clinging determinedly 10 squirming
puppies which they dared not trust
to run on the ground. Old men and
women were bringing away all the
household effects they could pack
on pushcarts or carry on their
backs.
For three years they had been
in captivity and some Of them in
slavery. They had been subsisting
on the bounty OF the American re-
lief committee which furnished
them virtually the only food they
obtained.
Capture German Battery.
Hard fghting has been going on
today at Crevecoeur, southeast Of
Masnieres. The British were holding
high ridge in front Of this place
and some troops had forced an en-
trance into the western part OF the
town. The Germans were still hold
ing the eastern section. a German
battery here which had been giving
trouble was charged and captured
by dismounted cavalrymen. The
battery was surrounded by heavy
barbed wire entanglements, preclud-
ing the use of horses, so the soldiers
stormed the position on foot and
annihilated the gun crews.
In the region of Rumilly heavy
machine gun and rifle fighting was
proceeding last night and this
morning.
West of Cambria tanks, cavalry
and infantry were pressing the at
tack vigorously about Fontaine
Notre Dame and the strong position
| I'm Bourbon wood. Fontaine Notre
| Dame has not been officially report
ed captured. but the story goes that
tank crews were served with hot
| coffee by the civilians in this place
| this morning.
! (Field Marshal Haigs official re-
! port Thursday night said the Ger
mans had retaken Fontaine Notre
Dance
Take mel Trench.
| Further nol n near BullecouTt the
British were in possession of the en-
| : -
known as the tunnel trench, which
had been famed for its supposed
impregnability At least FIVE deter
! mined counter attacks have beer
smashed in this region. Southeast
OF Bullecourt hard fighting occurred
at Moeuvres last night and 4 strong
| counter attack was repulsed.
The last line OF trench defenseS
in the region Of Cantaing have beer
broken and the British today were
firmly ests blished. at many points
in the Masnieres-B eaurois line
south Of Cambria.
some Details OF Battle.
IL is now possible 20 give NOR,
details OF Tuesdays battle. In tn,
advance south OF Cambria the frs
hard lighting occurred at Lateal
wood. which lies on the Cam bra
highway south Of MasniereS. Thi
wood finally was cleared OF Ger
mans and the advance continue,
toward Masnieres. Some opposition
was encountered in "a suburb but b,
/ O'Clock this had been oyercom
: land the British had crossed tn