The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-12-01
BRITISH KEEP UP
DRIVE ON CAMBRIA
The Forces of Gen. Byng Have
Driven the Germans From
Their StrOnghoIds.
CAPTURE NUMEROUS VILLAGES
Center of Wedge Has Penetrated leu.
ton Lines a Distance of More
Than Eight Miles.

Washington, Nov. 23.-The British
are carrying forward successfully
their maneuyeT, which apparently has
as its objective the enlightenment and
capture of the important railroad juno
ton Of Cambria, in Northern France.
For three days the forces of General
Byng have been strictly keeping to
their task Of smashing the German
positions in this region, and now, hay
ing driven the enemy from all his for
titled strongholds, are battling with
him in the open, with the monstrous
tanks and the dashing cavalry every
where opening the way for onslaughts
by the infantry.
British Line Forms Arc.
Already the British line describes an
arc from the west to the southwest
of Cambria, with the lower point rest
ing near Fontaine Notre Dame, two
and three-Quarters miles southwest of
the much sought for town. Although
the stroke of General Byng was deIiv-
cred over a front Of thirty-two miles,
from the Scarpe river to St. Quentin
it was in the center and in the direc-
ton of Cambria that it reached its
been driven more than eight miles and
in the driving Of it numerous towns
and villages have fallen into the
hands of the British, many of them
having been deserted by the sur
prised Germans, who fled in apparent
disorder, leaving equipment and stores
behind them.
Cavalry in Brilliant Charges.
The operations of the cavalry are de-
scribed as most brilliant, the horse
! men making gallant charges into vii
lagos, and even against machine gun
| positions, the entire gun crews of
which were shot and sabeced. At last
! reports they were engaged in sur
rounding the Bourbon Wood, directly
/ west of Cambria, which dominates
the entire region, including Cambria
/ itself
In addition to heavy losses in men
| killed or wounded, more than ten
! thousand Germans had been made
/ prisoner up to midday on Thursday
| The British casualties are declared to
be considerably less than the number
of prisoners taken by General Byngs
men.
Pierce HindenbUrg Line
Washington, Nov. 22.-The great
Hindenburg defense line, upon which
the German commander-in-chief had
buiIded his hopes Of holding the Brit
ish from inroads into the open terri
tory beyond, has been smashed And
the task apparently was an easy one
Attacking over a front Of thirty-twC
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 Spectacular
drives of the present war, catching
the Germans completely by surprise
in the onslaught, capturing numerOu:
positions which were regarded as i'm
pregnable and taking in addition thou
sands of prisoners and numerous guns
Cavalry in Fight
An Indication that the Germans
fortified line has been passed by th'
British at some points is the entry o
the cavalry into the fray. Not sine
the famous retreat of the German
along the Ancre and the Somme in TIT
spring of the present year have TIT
/ DStu 6uSoSC0 ~ lAAoLA I'LL
they performed valiant service in ha
RAISING the retreating columns and il
rounding up prisoners.
Nearing Cambria
The apex of the offensive apparent
" is centered on the important rail
way junction of Cambria, lying to tn
east of the old line midway between
Arras and St Quentin Here, having
taken the towns of Marcoing, Anneu1
Graincourt and Novelties, the victor
! ious troops at last accounts were vel
within gun range of Cambria, with 1t
railroad lines and rOadways branch
ing out toward all the main points o
the compass.
The latest adYices indicate that tn
, British have not yet ceased their al
tack, but, aided by monster tank
, which are leading the way, fOllowe
by infantry and machine gun detacf
ments, are pressing forward for ful
Their conquest.