Norwich bulletin., 1917-11-22

The great Hindenburg defence line, upon which the German commander in-chief had builded his hopes of hold ing the British from inroads onto the smashed. And the task apparently was an easy one.
 Attack Over Front of 32 Miles.
 Attacking over a front of thirty two miles, extending from the Scarpe river east of Arras. to St. Quentin, Field Marshal Haig with his English, Scotch, Irish and Welsh troops has made one of the most rapid and spec tacular drives of the present war, catching the Germans completely by surprise in the onslaught, capturing numerous positions which were con s!dered impresnabie and taking in addition thousands of prisoners and numerous guns.
 centered on Railway Junction.
 The apex of the offensive apparent ly is centered on the important rail- way junction of Carnbrai. lying to tfe east of the old line midway be- waen Arras and St~Quentin. Here, having taken the towns of Marcoing Anneux Graincourt and Nopilies, the victori- ous troops at last accounts were we'll within gun range of Cambrai. with it's ing out toward all the main points of the compass.
 British Still Pressing Forward.
 The latest advices indicate that the British have not yet ceased their at tack, but, aided by. monster tanks, which are leading the way, followed by infantry and machine gun detach- ments, are pressing forward for fur ther conquest
 French Start Offensive.
 Synchronously to the south around St Quentin and east of that point in the Aisne region, the French have be- gun an offensive. While no details of this movement have been received it doubtless has the object of pushing back the Germans eastward in the former sector and northward in the latter region toward Lacn, stra tegic moves which, if successful, doubtless would compel that portion of the Ger man line north of St. Quentin which is still intact to fall back precipitately eastward
 Germans Taken by Surprise.
 The British drive was begun with out the usual artillery prelude, and as the tanks and infantryrner made their way through the wire entang,e- ments and pressed into the German first positions, the surprised enemy began sending up myriads of signal rockets, calling for assistance. Whether aid was rushed up is not de- hnitely known, but seemingly the sur prised Germans fled in disorder leav- ing all kinds of equipment behind and in most cases did not even take time. as is usual. to apply the torch to vil- AsSeS they evacuated.
 Has Fortified Line Been Passed?
 An indication that the Germans fortified line has been passed by the British 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 harassing the retreating columns and in rounding up prisoners.
 British Losses Light.
 The British casualties are describ- ed as extremely light, while German dead covered the ground as the Brit ish pressed forward. Reports to date indicate that the depth of the pene- tration in the region of Cambrai has exceeded five miles. and that at one point at least, the troops swept on hve miles beyond the German lines capturing additional villages. The of- fensive was under direct command of General Sir Julian Hedworth George Byng, and General John J. Pershing. cnniander-in-chief of the American forces in France, was an interested observer of it.
 Italians Holding Teutons.
 Meanwhile, the, Italians everywhere are holding the Teutonic allied invad- CTS along the Piave river and in the lilly region from the upper reaches of that stream to Lake Garda. No- wii-Te has the enemy been able to gam additional ground. On the con- fT-- several violent attacks in the Bal country have been repulsed with hoayy casualties. Probably owing to previous intellectual attempts to dis 1cdge the defenders the enemy has not T. newcd his attacks against Monte 2 mha and Monte Monfanera, the vii ia points barring the way to an in- ss. ion of the Venetian plain from the no-th- On the coastal front Italian ard British WarShiDS f1 i inc enemy positions.
 In. Palestine British Advance
 still further progress has been made by the British in Palestine the line of General Allenby now having been