El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-11-22
that he was about to be attacked.
REslcrANcE or cERMANs
NEGLIGIBLE; MANY KILLED


British Army Headquarters in
France. Tuesday. Nov. 2o.--The re-.
doubtable Hindenburg line In the
Cambrai sector was broken in many
places today by the great force Of
the British tanks, and this afternoon
the infantry which followed through
the gaps are still battling their way
forward. The surprise attack was
launched ct dawn owe c wide front.
In the first few hours its prog ess
was marked with evident success and
up to the latest reports received at
this time "A p n.y. had teen moving
along regularly according to sched-
ule.
The resistance offered by the daz.
ed Germans this morning was negllg.
ible and by noon the engineers al
ready were at work laying roads
across the old front line trenches
while prisoners in considerable num-
bers had begun to come back from
various directions. The casualties OF
the attacking forces thus far have
been light. Great numbers of Ger
man dead lie before the main Hin,
denburg trench where the bewilder-
ed enemy taken unawares made a
half-hearted attempt to stem the on
rushing Britons.
The battle was an innovation TOR
the western front, for 1t was begun
without any preliminary artillery
work. Upon the army tanks rested
the responsibility for victory or de-
feat and they fulfilled all expecta-
lions. The tanks started forward at
6:20 o'clock and by 1880 the British
infantry which had swarmed into the
holes made by the mighty engines
was engaging the enemy in open
fighting along the Hindenburg sup
port line back of the main defenses
at. many points. Up to noon today
there had been no hard fighting and
the German artillery fire had been
very weak.
The Germans surrendered freely in
numerous places and several hundred
brought in during the first few
hours Of fighting.
Two attempted counter-attacks
were smashed by the British infantry
IN the early hours, n in a tunnel
trench ear B~ullecourt, the other es
H~avrincourt Park. where n conI-
pany Of Germans essayed an advance.
The tanks this afternoon followed by
infantry were continuing their jour
ney into enemy territory.
Prisoners admit ruefully that the
attack was a surprise to them and
caught many of them in their dug
outs. The secrecy with which the
British made their preparations vas
one Of the most striking features of
the offensive. Guns, tanks and troops
were moved into the Cambria sector
at night and carefully hidden during
the day.
Nearly a score Of guns is report.
cd to have been captured. The Brit.
ish are pushing on toward Cantaing.
three miles southwest OF Cambria
Northwest Of Marcoing the high
ground known as Preny Chappelle
has been fought over, and the Ger
lar have been forced to with
draw.
Up to the actual hour of the
break, there were moments when
great stiffness reigned over the bat
tie front. and 1t seemed impossible
that within a short time the line
would be a seething caldron. AT
C:20 o'clock a long line of tanks,
dis tributed over a wide front, start.
ed forward at the same time, the
British infantry IN either side OF
the land monitors making threats at
the German line. Within a few sec.
onds tie entire enemy front for a
distance Of many miles was flam.
ing with variegated signals which
caTed frantically for help from the
German gunners in the rear. Red,
green, white and blue lights shot up
in every direction and the rockets
showered a myriad of stars down
through the gloon like a mammoth
display Of fireworks.