The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-10-10
BRITISH CANNON
MOVED RAPIDLY
Battle on Cammal.St. Quentin
Front Develops Into One
of Fast Action.
TANKS AND CARS IN DRIVE
Canadians and British Pursue
Fleeing Boche, Who Realized
Uselessness Of Fight.

brai-St. Quentin Front. Wednesday
Oct. 9.-(By the Associated Press.)-
BY last night the British and Ameri.
cans had reached q point where 1t was
certain that the German lines. will
probably one hard blow could bt
checked. As a matter of fact. cavalry
might have gone through the German
lines last night In considerable num-
bers. Only patrols were sent out. how.
ever, while the main bodies were held
just back Of the line.
After a night of heavy firing from
the British guns. during which the sky
seemed to blaze with flashes, the third
and fourth armies again attacked this
morning from Cambria south. to the
front held by the French. At the same
time the Canadian and English troops
after q "crash" barrage launched O
powerful attack extending some miles
north from Cambria.
For miles the front suddenly sprang
into action. The Canadians had hard
going at one place just north of Cam
brai. but with great gallantry swept on
after annihilating the Germans who
tried to bar their way. From there on
the resistance weakened and the Cana
dians, with the English. hurried east
ward. smothering the usual screen OF
German machine gunners as they went.
Met in Center canbrai.
Canadian and British troops met IN
the center Of Cambria, which was en-
tered from both north and south and
quickly mopped up. Many Germans
had escaped. but many hundreds who
had been held there to launch coun-
ter-attack were either killed or cap
tured, Some of the enemy troops are
still in deep cellars two stories under
ground and in the tunnels the Ger
mans dug during their occupation OF
the city. These are being routed out
and sent back to the cages.
Although many fires were started by
the Germans, the town was found not
to be as badly damaged as had been
feared. The solid buildings withstood
the flames well. 1t was quite evident
however, that 1t was no fault OF the
Germans that the city had not been
leveled to the ground by the many
fres' they had kindled.
/. South of the city the third ana
fourth armies rapidly, overcame enemy
opposition. The Germans starteo nee.
inr soon after the attack began, for they
reaIized they were fighting a battle In
which they could hope for no success
T,he front line for twenty miles began
moving rapidly eastward. Then came
renorts from airplanes. with which the
skv was literally crowded, that Wanl-
haix had been taken. Soon the cap
ture of Harcourt was reported. FROM
+hen on tidings came in rapid success
sion of the villages falling before the
" Close In on caudry and Bray.
co,,,;rcnv CauNery, Ligny. Mon
tipnv and Maretz were quickly reacheu
and passed and soon the allies were
closing in on Caudry and Bray. In the
same time from the north 1t was re-
ported that Escaudoeuvres, east OF
Cambria, had been. taken and that
Inchy was being approached.
The Cambrai-Le Chateau road was
crossed and then the railway between
st. Quentin and BertTy was cut.
S~boncourt was then in sight and Fon-
taine Notre Dame, further south. had
been reached by the French. BY that
time it was clear the enemy was badly
smashed and the British and Amerl-
cans stood on the threshold of the wide
open country. 1t was about that time
that the cavalry poured through the
wide breach in the now shattered Hin
denburg system and streamed out into
the country beyond. Fast "whippet"
tanks and armored cars also crashed
forward and came into action. They
performed extremely valuable service
in pursuing the fleeing Germans, kill
ing many and rounding up large
number of prisoners. They smashed
down strong points held by rear
guards who had been waiting for the
cavalry, knowing that it had come
through the line.
Cavalry forces now are apparently
well east Of the towns reported cap
turcd. The allies having thus broken
through the Germans north and south
for many miles are endangered, for
their lines are being turned. Retreats
on even broader scale than that now
in progress may therefor be expected.
Distinctly Satisfied.
Officers directing the attack were
distinctly satisfied as the news came
back. The best report was from an
air patrol that British infantry had
been seen marching as If on parade in
a column of fours into and through the
town Of Bertry.
The men were swinging along en-
tirely unmolested by the enemy. An
other patrol brought word Of the Ger
mans fleeing nthe greatest disorder as
far east as lie Chateau. Enemy troops
md transports, it was said. were
streaming along the roads and over the
fields trying to make their escape. Such
thing as troops who have just attacked
marching through a town 10000 yards
from the place where they started Is a
thing that has not happened for long
time. Such a thing could only happen
now, when the enemy Is defeated. dis
organized, disheartened and running
for his very existence. The troops at
Bertry kept right on marching.
Where the Germans will stop is, of
course. impossible to tell. 1t is known
that they have been working on a fine
running generally back Of LIE Cateau,
but prisoners say that this line Is in
an embryo condition and cannot offer
much protection. Even If 1t did. the
British would not have much trouble in |
smashing it, considering their over |
whelming preponderance of guns, mu-
nitions and men.
Battle Of Movement.
British cannon had been on the move |
eastward all day long. In many cases |
batteries would gallop over the rolling |
plains of Artois. They would stop, |
dash on and repeat the performance.
rapid movement.
There is 10 intention to let the Ger
mans get 4 chance to regain their
forces. british troops are advancing
k@stward astride the road from Cam !