Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-10-16

was an explosion of cartridges in the
ruins.
Some liberty loving patriots had
secured a French flag, which they
nailed to a telegraph pole in the
square. When another American
correspondent and myself the first
Americans to reach the historic town,
arrived in the square several French
officers were there to receive us.
French correspondent, in compliment
to our appearance, greeted us by
playing America" on a piano that
stood outdoors in front of the town
hall Volumes of smoke rolled over
the performer and troubled him
somewhat, but his execution of the
anthem lacked nothing in enthusi-
asm.
Ring the Church Bells.
Soldiers and others took up the air
and outbursts of song were soon ring
ing through the streets and from the
ramshackle houses, TO the accompani-
ment of crashing masonry and the
overhead whiZzing of British howitzer
shells One lusty Tommy Atkins
made his way TO the belfry of a
church where he rang out the good
liulHSst anu SUM all the beilS VI
Cambria joined in the sonorous
chorus. rousing the enthusiastic APP
probation of the soldiers
Cambria is badly dishevelled as a
town, but it might have been worse
treated. judging by the ruins else
where that the Boche has left in the
war zone as his bequest to posterity.
He spared much of the residential
portion of the town. Extensive traces
of looting are indicated by the con-
dition of the interiors of many of the
houses. but on the whole the Boche
rose superior to himself and left a
good part of the town unchanged.
Fastened to the door of the town
hall was a military order, directing
all civilians to keep out of the town
from September to midnight of
September s. In the rush to comply
with the order, civilians were per-
mitted to carry off only a small guam
tity of personal effects. Riots and
looting by soldiers, in which officers
are said to have participated, en-
sued. Only one civilian remained in
Cambria throughout the siege He
was priest of one Of The churches.
He said the enemy began satting
fire to buildings on Saturday and
Sunday. Some of those fires arc still
burning today Going toward Cam
brai, the roads presented Il thrilling
spectacle of cheering, victorious
troops. The enthusiasm was infec-
tious ana became general Shri!l of
bagpipes and the deep voices OF brass
bands contributed to the citation of
the men. ] saw the columns pass
along part of the road along which
lay large numbers of dead Germans,
exhibits of the quick work that had
preceded the capture of Cambria.
Soldiers Arc Jubilant.
Helmets were strewn along the
tops of enemy trenches Just before
we reached the Scheldt Canal, and
grenades, rifles and cartridges lit
tered the bottom of the trenches, One
of the marching and singing lines
of soldiers passed a church, whore a
solCiter was celebrating victory by
ringing the huge bell, and u march,
ers responded with cheer after cheer.
The enemy had planned an exten-
sive tank tran system to the right
of Cambria. When the British swept
in on the flanks of the trap area.
which was more than two miles long
and contained hundreds Of buried
shells, the construction work, having
. involved tremendous labor, was de-