Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-11-23
The Tanks and the British Victory.

The Tanks and the British Victory.
The latest British advance against the Germans
on a thirty-two mile front from the Scarpe River
southwark to St. Quentin, to a depth approximate
ing five miles. rises in Importance as the news of
its extent and completeness arrives. Ii will be prob
ably several days before the victory which is de-
scrfbed as the most important since the battle OF
the Marne and the greatest achievement of the
British armies since the war began, will be known
in all its bearings.
AT the present time it exhibits two great
aspects namely that it offsets in no small degree
the Italian disaster and demonstrates in a truly
astounding manner that Hindenburg has been out
generated and beaten even though guarded by his
supposedly impregnable line and its secondary for
tihcations Swift, sudden blows in France are no
longer the peculiar possession Of the Germans
Initiative and battle strategy have passed to
French and British hands. In what manner this is
true may be gathered from the following para
graphs in the account of the battle given by Will
liam Philip Simms, the correspondent
The strangest battle in the worlds history
! was that by which the British smashed the
Hindenburg line. There has been no other
battle like 1t in the annals of warfare.
Only the wooden horse of Troy offers COM
parison with Haig's blow in tactical original
ity-
At a moment when the world saying
that surprise attacks in this were no
longer possible. when the Prussians were
thinking the same thing and sleeping soundly
in their comfortable dug-outs, without the
faintest suspicion that anything was brewing,
British army tanks leading British infantry
rose up from the ground like magic and swung
to the attack. - rrf.
The result of the attack is given thus by Mr..
Simms mo more utterly demoraIzed human be-
hal
confident Boches as they crawIed from their dug
outs sleep barely out of their eyes, at the sound
of the crunching. numbering juggernauts above
them-to find British soldiers .swarming every
where They raised their arms in shriIling cries
of 'Kameradl' 'Kamerad!' and fed hither and
thither dazed and terror-stricken."
The great British coup had for its basis the
tanks the most effective engines of warfare
evolved on the side of the allies. They have been
used before in attacks by the British but not until
now have they been utilized as means upon which
to rest an entire general movement. The Germans
had their submarines terrible in the havoc they are
capable OF working, but their power seems to be
on the wane The British have their tanks crude
experiment at first, but they have increased In
numbers and effectiveness until they are able to
serve in place OF artillery barrage for advanc-
ing infantrymen.
1t was Just here that British brains worked out
the surprise that contributed largely to the
cent brilliant victory. The artillery curtain of fire
eveling It does opposing trenches and fortifca-
TONS nevertheless gives notice to the enemy that
an attack is about to begin Preparation there
fore be made for it not only in the first line
trenches but also in the second and third.
Assembling an unprecedented number of tanks
behind the front lines in the Cambria sector with
out the knowledge of the Germans. General Haig
at the appointed time sent them over the top,
aorous tha onuosfng trenches where thew swept
aside wire entanglements and made large openings
for the supporting infantry. The Germans a
part OF the front that has inactive for several
months had no warning. The tell-tale frightening
OF artillery fire was absent. way had been
found to demolish Iaboriously constructed fortca-
lions and to make easy the path of the attackers
The tanks enabled the surprise to be effected and
the surprise brought confusion to the ranks of the
enemy permitting even the third line trench to be
reached
Rejoicing over the victory is widespread in
England France Italy and the United States 1t SUI
mercedes the apprehension that has been so tense
during the last two weeks over the Italian situation
That situation has not yet cleared It may be that
the advance was gained Italy by the withdrawing
of troops from the quiet Cambria territory. If so
the victory has been cOunterbalanced and the Cen
trail powers will be compelled to spend less thought
upo- Following up their victory in Italy and msFr
upon protecting the Hindenburg line in France.
However these things may be, il has been shown
that the Hndenburg line can be passed and the Ger
mans expelled from France when men. metal and
leadership meet in proper proportion. The United
States must set itself more urgently than t.
the task of seeing that ingredient of this formula
shall ever become depleted. -.
The man who sent the peace ship to Europe ii
now prepared to manufacture thousands of ship
m helm he