New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-22

made from Soursies 70 Gouzeaucourt,
with smaller pushes on both TANKS. IL
was not until the British infantry be-
gan to reach the villages and hamlets
behind the second line that they en-
countered serious opposition. There
the first rush carried them into Hav-
rineourt, Ribecourt and Vacquerie.
There followed momentary lull
while the British took stock Of the sit
uation and recovered their second wind.
Then they pushed on toward Cambria.
The general direction Of the movement
was from the west along the Bapaume
road and from the southwest along the
Peronne- Cambria Railway.
Late in the afternoon the enemy was
still unable TO check the advance, which
yielded Marcoing. Graincourt and An
neux. 10 the southwest of Cambria.
Just before dark rain fell heavily,
continuing through the night and to-
day.
Behind the enemy lines a situation
approaching paAic can easily be mag
ined, for. with the exception Of the
French attack in the Champagne and
the British drive at Loos in 1915, the
enemy has never been caught so COM
pletely unprepared. All the big Allied
successes in the West have been won
by hammering, with little Of the ele-
ment of surprise.
Throughout the night the Germans
rushed reserves from the Champagne,
MessineS and Flanders in the hope of
saving Cambria Apparently the Brit
ish advance carried the troops within
about three miles Of Cambria, a gain
of more than five miles at some points.
Undoubtedly the enemy will spare
nothing in the hope Of regaining some
of his lost positions. which means a re-
disposition Of his Western forces.
Both sides will watch closely for the
first signs Of weakening. Instead of
war of positions and attrition. there is
now glimmering the hope ia war of
movement.
When the full story is written it will
be learned, | believe, that American en-
gineers shared a part Of the credit in
building railways behind this bit Of
front.
The whole country here has been
aroused tonight as II hasn't been for
many months After fortnight of gloom
the news comes as tremendous sur
prise. The grim determination so ap-
parent since the disaster in Italy has
given way to a spirit Of high eXulta-
ton. The "Westerners" have now con-
crete proof of the wisdom of their
views, and the myth Of an impenetrable
barrier has disappeared.
The danger OF the British position
now lies in the sharpness of the salient
they have driven into the enemy ter
ritory. The point" is only three or
four miles across, apparently. and most
of the gain is embraced between the
roads from Bapaume and Peronne to
Cambria Haig is now trying to en-
large his salient northward, as indi-
Gated by the advance across the road
from Cambria TO Bapaume.
Mount Nesuvius, west of Havrin-
court. was stormed by the British and
promptly blown up by mines the Ger
mans had placed beneath it. The loss
Of life TO the British must have been
heavy. but the incident did not hold
up their remorseless advance.
A feature Of the offensive was that
it was carried out entirely by troops
from the British Isles-Englsh. Scotch.
Welsh and Irish No Colonials. so far
as is known, had any part IN 1t.
General Haig narrates in detail the
work done by the troops from the diff
ferent sections Of Great Britain and
Ireland. After the great gaps had
been torn through line after line Of
heavy wire entanglements by the row
of tanks, English, Scottish and Irish
regiments poured through and the first
defensive system of the Hindenburg
line was SOON in their hands.
The barrage of smoke created around
the land battleships and the early
morning fog prevented the German ar
tillery from doing effective work on
the caterpillar infantry. The surprised
front line Teuton troops apparently
put up little resistance to the rifles,
grenades and light machine guns Of
the British and the heavier pieces Of
the armed tractors.
With only a slight pause. the tanks
and infantry passed the first trench
system and assailed the so-called Hin
denburg support line. This was about
a mile beyond the first line. and there
fore much less thoroughly reconnoitred.
Decentralization undoubtedly had set in
among the reserve troops Of Prince
Rupprecht, for the whole of the Ger.
man defences were in Allied hands
within a few hours.
East county troops, says General
Hgig. are 10 be credited with the capt
ure Of the hamlet Of Benavis and Of
LateRu Wood in this stage of the fight
ing. They took them only after
hand-to-hand struggle.
English rife regiments and light in
fantry stormed a spur called Welsh
Ridge, which had been fortified with
all the art Of the German Great Cen
eral staff They also took La Vac
querie. while other English county