The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-10-11
IluES MT CAMBRIA
| At CRITICAL TINE
another Days Delay Would Have
Seen German Armies Slipping
Away from Region.
INHABITANTS OVERLOOKED.
Ire and Explosions Cause Much
Damage, Increased Later by Bonn
barsiment from Artillery OF Huns

LONDON, OCT. lo--l ucSoa5 o
,as one OF the great pitched battles
the war, detailed dispatches from
he British front today showed. IL
nded In complete victory for the
llies-so complete that the Germans
etween Cambria and St quentin
we're Yesterday in full retreat IN
apable of offering any serious
istance to our advance.
They must have thrown into the
attIa more than twenty divisions
ay. 10000 bayonets-and they LOST
900 prisoners and 200 guns.
1t is very likely that if tie allies
al not struck on Tuesday the enemy
,puld have been slipping away
Tres are burning in many towns anu
is cffecting what destruction ne
an, but in the country the -aihes nave
verrun in the past twenty-four houi
nere has been little time for the zoe
ply the torch. villages nave ia,,1
atact into our hands and thousands
French civilians have probanis
cen released.
In Cambria many explosions nave
cen taking place. which nave re-
uced the place practically to ruins
percival Phillips writes OF the entry
alto Cam hrai:
since no shell marks can be louho
anywhere it Is plain that the con-
asrations have not been caused oy
British artillery. Houses are stlil
abitable, though showing every sign
having been well plundered.
.rockery and even pictures remain
n dust covered rooms. There are
mirrors on the walls and unbroken
,indows screened by torn curtains
ONE of the wellkept' gardens with
heir neat flower beds and carefully
ruined trees look as If the owners
ad only just left them.
Cathedral Untouched
THE cathedral is untouched by FIRE
r shell. but the principal theatre has
cen destroyed Many factory build
nes in and around the town have
cen system atically stripped OF their
Machinery. for the foe is determined
, cripple French industries, and
.ambrai is one of the I'm porta t
Manufacturing centres of the north. -
Describing the release OF ctvllia ms
rom the captured villages. Philips
hys:
LAS they approached solvisny.
bout a mile 10 the northeast. our
roops saw people waving bits OF
10th and making earnest gestures.
I first they were thought to be Ger
hans desiring 10 surrender. but an
hspection through the glasses show
Il that they were agifatcd cfvtfia ns
reckoning the British TO approach.
bur nnen were greeted with tears and
laughter as they entered the village.
Some moving experiences greeted
hem as they entered Cauliery. Here
gain residents who had taken shelter
n their cellars for more than week
Aad awaited 10 Keen suspense all
ighi for the arrival OF the british
rny- When The last German had
.*a ppeared he men came UP from
heir caveh and went to the edge OF
ne village our low sying aeropianes
oted them in the gray dawn waving
heir hands implcring'y and sent back
message that they were waiting for
heir neiiVerance.
Five HUNDRED inhahitants OF Sc
ian were rescued Yesterday morning
rhen the Lancashire Territorials en-
cred the village. | found them this
nnrning in a ruined camp amid the
rerches whlch were the front line
n.y a lew days ago. ! Still 3axAd by
heir unexpected rescue and the trials
hey have undergone, hut happy,
|atheticai'y happy.
*They had lived for eight days and
lights in their cellars. hearing the
attle draw nearer and fearing they
Eould he killed in the struggle for
he possession OF the village. But
hey were comforfed and encouraged
" their priest. who marched with
hcna through the German lombard
reni when they we're freed.
4 Contrast i'm Civilization.
The German town mayor made a
White rag out of a sheet, put red
ross on it and hoisted II on the spire
I the church 10 proclaim the pres
nee OF civilians He observed tina,
the English were really a civilized
eeople they would respect it. An
our after the British entered Serain
he Germans began homhardtng il
nd ave civilians were killed
THE villagers were nearly out OF
heir Wits for JOY when the Ianca-
hire lads met them Despite the
bom ha rdment they begged 10 be al
owed time to collect their luggage
bout noon an extraordinary process
ion started toward Nillers Cutreaux
ed by the parish priest Women in
gathered hats and little boys wear
nr their sunday clothes. "A local dig
hilary in a worn froek coat. wonder
ny children and aged men who could
knly weep, trudeed over the battle
Bcld OF yesterday.
"Iorries met them and they rode
o camp, where they embraced the
oldiers and asked for bread. Bread
vas given them 10 the last crunh il
he possession OF our men ARD At
onors went willingly today WI b. a.
ny II was as strange and pitfu, a
light a. any Witnessed in this war AZ
he -lorries with their excited occu'
,anfs drove through the columns oi
ROOFS. One old man sitting OH u
kitchen chair could do nothing but
lift his cap repeatedly. Women in.
listed on shaking hands with ever,
koldier who stopped.
There was little 10 tell of theiI
arab four-years' life under the Ger.
man Their experience was that o.
livery French civilian in the ravaget
eountry we are retaining The,
xnew practically nothing OF the
worlds happenings or OF the victorie,
BIZ France The children are silent
nth faces like wax and the miser,
81 captivity is marked on ever,
eountenance.'
-uuy Liberty nonds-
fAClSTRATE SUNDAY FINES