The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-22
Correspondents Describes Cap
tured Hindenburg Line.
, Amazed at Effective Work OF
Huge Land Cruisers.
THRU WIRES; CROSS TRENCHES
Enemy Artillery Did Little
Damage to Steel Monsters.
Cavalry and Infantry Capture
Big Guns in Bold Charges.

British Army Headquarters III
France. wednesday, Nov. 21.-(By the
Associated Press. THE present battle
more than any other in the western
theater has taken on the SAVIOR OF
fighting in other wars when men
struggled in the open and cavalry
made thrilling charges against enemy
guns. Many military critics long
have contended that cavalry was
thing of the past but the mounted
men have refuted this claim.
General Haig has chung to his horse
troops thruout the weary months OF
trench firhting He believed that
some dav he would have change 10
use them and his judgment has been
FieId Marshal Haig's blow against
the Cambria front represents true
strategy. He had hammered at the
enemy in Flanders until they were
Worn out completely. He had driven
them back as far as the mud Woul9
hermit ard had compelled them to can
IN every ounce of strength they mad 70
maintain themselves. Then he sud
denly sprung his surprise attack in an
unexpected quarter.
Supposed Line ImpreSnable.
The Hindenburg lines on the Cam
[..ai front were the strongest the Ger
enemy considered them impregnable.
Not only were they strongly fortified
l.ut they were protected by very deep
! elt of barbed wire which 1t was
thought that only a protracted bonn
lrdment BY great concentration of
ans would cut sufficiently to allow
e infantry to 90 thru. British tanks
I'd never before been called upon for
such extensive work but they did in a
/ W hours what the artillery would
J ave required days to accomplish me
Ilindenburg line was pierced absolute
/ on a wide front and to greater
depth than ever before.
The correspondent today insp, ted
the main Hind~nburg lie near
/ avrincourt and saw the amazing
', ork done by the iron monsters. In
most places they had no trouble either
in tearing thru the wire or in cross
ing trenches. There were gaps in the
ire ent nglements a rod in width,
v here not one VeStiSe OF wire was
# standing. and by following the
tracks Of the tanks one could see
y. mere they had trHndled across the
trenches as tho they were merely
scratches in tie ground instead OF
wide deep bitches. The tanks, OF
course. went thru No Mans Land un-
der the fun observation of the Ger
man artillery and while the gunfire
was weak. some forces were directed
on tanks as they advanced. 1t was in
t-restinE to follow the trail of the
tanks and to see where shells had
struck all about apparently without
{ ping any damage, for in this whole
section the correspondent did not see
enc tank which had been knocked
out.
Left Equipment Behind.
The condition of the German
trenches showed plainly that the oc-
bupants had abandoned them In a
hurry. All sorts of equipment and
personal belongings strewed the
ground.
Since the beginning of the attack
the gunfire had been extremely weak.
No Mans Land showed comparatively
few shell craterc today and this morn
ing the British guns were doing Vlr-
tually all the firing along most of the
font involved. This is a striking
contrast to the Flanders region, which
has been an inferno Of artillery fire
for weeks.
The Germans have attempted very
few counter attacks thus far and all
of them have been smashed.
The latest counter thrust reported
was made last night near Demicourt
and this was dealt with very promptly.
The Germans who at the first at
tack yesterday. retreated or surren-
dered in dismay were fight desperate
" today to regain a hold on their
rear positions A particularly hard
hand to hand engagement occurred
this morning at FIesquires. when the
infantry accompanied by tanks.
stormed this place and drove the
Germans from it.
The fighting about F'lesquires be-
gan last might, but it was not until
today that the British made an
organized assault on the town. The
tanks went ahead and were engaged
Immediately by seven heavy German
guns which began to fire at them
point blank at short range. It was
critical moment, for while the tanks
will withstand heavy fire they cannot
be expected to stand up long under
big shells hurled from guns only a
short distance away.
Take Guns by Storm.
The British infantry which swarmed
thru behind the tanks saw the pre-