New Britain herald., 1917-11-23
CRIPPLES GO TO
 AID OF SOLDIERS
Continued from First Page.)

posed impregna b1lity, at least five de- termtned counter attacks have been smashed in this region. Southeast of Bullecourt hard fighting occurred at Moeuvres last night and strong counter attack was repulsed.
 The last line of trench defenses in the region of Cantaing have been broken, and the British today were firmly established at many points in the Masnieres- -Beaurous line south of Cambrai.
 It is now possible to give more de- tails of Tuesdays battle. In the ad- vance south of Cambrai, the first hard fighting occurred at Lateau wood, which lies on the Cambrai highway south of Masnieres. This wood final ly was cleared of Germans and the ad- vance continued toward Masnieres. Some opposition was encountered in a suburb, but by 1 o'clock this had been overcome and the British had crossed the LEscault canal.
 Marcoing was taken with little re- sistance from the enemy.
 German resistance on the first day was comparatively weak as a whole, and they surrendered freely in many places. Yesterday their lines stiff ened and hard fighting followed. Ger man endorsements from Lens and the two companies of invalids already mentioned were thrown into the line.
 The first counter attack came over the ridge from the northeast of Mas nieres. The enemy advanced in mass formaion as in the early days of the war. The British had concentrated 8 large number of machine guns at this point and permitted the enemy to ad- vance to within a thousand yards of the line before they opened fire. Then the machine guns and artillery were turned on the Germans and they were smashed in whitening storm.
 An attack on Marcoing was at- tempted by the enemy but as in the former case, they were caught in heavy artillery and machine gun fire and turned back after suffering se- verely.
 Later another body of Germans ad- vanced on Noyeiles, which was held by one company of British troops, here some of the stiffest fighting took place at close quarters. Both sides pushed up endorsements, and for two hours the battle surged back and forth in the streets and among the buildings. The Germans fought we'll but they were not good enough to withstand the fury of the British as- sault and gradually they were forced back across the canal to the east.
 Among the German prisoners were several officers caught in the regi- mental headquarters. Their com- mander was among the captured, and it is reported his advent into the British lines was humorous spec. tacle. He came tramping back clad in an elaborate fur coat. followed by two servants who carried more of his hnery. He was swearing mad at the turn of events. The sight of a com pany of British cavalry threw him al most into frenzy and the lurid lan- guage which he directed at the Brit ish drew a smile from even the war hardened Tommy, who has at times quite a harsh vocabulary of his own.
 In one town the inhabitants learned Of the approach of the British from ma achine gun fire in the distance and with excitement watched for the com- ing of their friends from every van tage point available.
 They had their first sight of the advancing forces at the bridgehead, and saw coming with the attacking troops strange monsters which they never dreamed existed. They were the great tanks and the people start ed in amazement as these mighty en- zines /ploughed through their way forward.
 Only 38O Germans were holding the town and all except a few left in the cellars withdrew five minutes before the British entered.
 With the civilians who greeted the British were two German soldiers, one from Alsace and the other from Lor-. raine who had deserted and were waiting to give themselves up to the British with whom they sympathized.
 During the three years of their cap tlvity the civilians were fed by the American relief commission. All other food was requisitioned by the Germans who placed heavy penalties or those who concealed any. Many persons served terms in jail for al- legged violations of the orders.
 The Germans stripped all the houses or their furniture as soon as they entered. Among the houses thus pill laged we're five magnificent chateaus. All men of military age were arrest ed and sent to Germany. Women were compelled to do all manner of work such as sweeping streets, wash : ing clothes of German officers and waiting on them.
 The mayor declared his belief that Germany was actually starving. He said there seemed to be no doubt that the civilians in Germany were under going great hardships.
 In Cave Three Years. Among the most interesting of the refugees was a man of military age who had hidden in a cellar for three years to escape the Germans and had been fed by his wife with an extra