The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-24
VICTORY FOR TANKS.
BIlITiSH TANKS LEAD WAY IN
HAIG'S DARING MOVE.
Great Gaps Made I'm Hintlenburg Line
Through Which Infantry Rcgi-
menrs Rush Against Surprised Ger
mans.


sociated Prcss) The redoubtable
iindenburg line i'm the Cambrai sec
tor was broken In many places today
by the great force OF the British tanks
md this afternoon the infantry which
followed through the gaps are still
battling their way forward.
The surprise attack was launched
at dawn over wide front. In the
iirst few hours its progress was
marked with evident success and up
TO the latest reports received at this
time a p. m.) had been moving
along regularly according to sched-
uie.
The resistance offered by the dazeC
Germans this morning was negligible
and British pioneers already were at
work laying roads across the old front
line trenches. while prisoners I'm con-
siderable numbers had begun to come
back from various directions. The
casualties OF the attaching forces thus
far have been light Great numbers
OF German dead lie before the main
Hindenburg trench where the bewil-
dered enemy. taken unawares, made a
half hearted attempt to stem the on
rushing Britons.
The battle was an innovation for
the Western front for Il was begun
without any preliminary artillery
work. Upon the army tanks rested
tho responsibility for victory or de-
feat and they fulfilled all expectations
The iron giants went through the
tremendous line OF barbed wire en-
tanglements in front OF the main Hin
denburg positions and on over the
trenches as though they were on par
rude.
The tanks started forward at $40
O'clock and by l1.3O the British in
fantry. which had swarmed into the
holes made by the mighty engines was
engaging the enemy In open fighting
along the Hindenburg support line
back OF the main defenses at many
points. Up to noon today there had
been no hard lighting and the Ger
man artillery fire had been very weak.
The Germans surrendered freely in
numerous places and several hundred
were brought in during the first few
hours OF hghting.
nf n nf.fa nta IL.
smashed by the British artillery in
the early hours. one I'm tunnel
trench near Bullecourt. the other at
Havrincourt Park. where one com
pany OF Germans cssayed an advance.
The tanks this afternoon followed by
infantry were continuing their jour
ney into enemy territory.
Prisoners admit ruefully that the
attack was surprise TO them and
caught many OF them i'm their dug
outs. The secrecy with which the
British made their preparations was
one of the most striking features OF
the offensive. Guns tanks and troops
ot night and carefully hidden during
the day.
Up To the actual hour OF the British
attack there were moments when
great stiffness reignr1 over the battle
front. and Il seemed impossible with
In short time the line would be "a
seething caldron. AT $50 o'clock a
long line OF tanks. distributed over "a
wide front started forward. At the
same time the British infantry on
either side OF the land monitors made
threats at the German line. Within
few seconds the entire enemy front
Tor many miles was flaming with va =
riegated signals which called frantical-
~ Tor help from the German gun
nerS In the rear. Red. green. white
and blue lights shot up In every direc-
hon. and the rockets showercd my
Rad OF stars down through the
gloom. like mammoth display OF
fireworks.
The dismay OF the Germans was
bhzed across the inky sky i'm this un
forge,table whirlwind OF pyrotechnics
"s though their higher command had
announced II officially. Their guns
came into action first one. then hal:
dozen. then scores. but their fire
was weak. They were not prepared
Tor such an event. or they would
nave shown II In their artillery work
The British big guns soon began TO
break the silence on their side. not in
the form OF barrage fire. but i'm
counter battery work Naan,,,hit,, 49,,