Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-11
HOW THE ALLIED
TROOPS TOOK
HUN STRONGHOLD

Cambrai-St. Quentin Front. Wednes-
day. Oct. 9-By the Associated
Press)-By last night the British and
Americans had reached point where
it was certain that the German lines.
probably with one hard blow. could
| be cracked. AS a matter OF tact,
cavalry might have gone through the
German lines last night in consider
able numbers. Only patrols were sent
out however. while the main bodies
were held just back of the line.
After a night of heavy rain from the
British guns, during which the sky
seemed to blaze with flashes, the
Third and Fourth Armies attacked
this morning from Cambria south to
the front held by the French. At the
same time Canadian and English
| troops, after crash barrase,'
launched a 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 Canadians, with the English, hur-
ried eastward. smotherng the usual
screen Of German machine sunners
as the went Canadian and British
troops met in the center of Cambria.
which was entered from north and
south, quickly mopped up. Many
Germans had escaped but many hum
dreds who had been held there to
launch a counter attack were either
killed or captured. Some of the en-
envy troops were still in deep cell
lars two stories under ground and in
| the tunnels the Germans dug during
their occupation of the city. These
were 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 with
stood the flames well. 1t was quite
evident however, that 1t was no
fault Of the Germans that the city
had not been levelled to the ground
by the many fires they had kindled.
|
armies rapidly overcame enemy opposi-
! ton. The Germans started fleeing soon
after the attack began, for they real
lied they were fighting battle in which
they could hope for no success. The
| front line for 20 miles began moving
rapidly eastward. Then came reports
! from airplanes, with which the sky was
| literally crowded. that WambaiX had
| been taken. Soon the captume of Har-
court was reported From then on tid-
ings came in rapid succession Of viii
| lagos falling before the Allied advance.
Selvigny, Caullery, Ligny, Montisny
and Maretz were quickly reached and
passed and soon the Allies were closing
in on Caudry and Bertry. At the same
time from the north it was reported
/ that Escaudoeuvres. east of Cambria,
!, had been taken and that Inchy was be-
ing approached.
The Cambrai-LeCateau road was
crossed and then the railway between
ST. Quentin and Bertry was cut. Seb-
roncourt was then in sight and Fon-
tame 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 Americans
stood on the tf reshhold Of the wide open
country.
1t was about that time that the caval-
ry, which had been waiting, poured
through the wide breach in the now
shattered Hindenburg system ard
streamed out into the country beyond.
To sxrh; 60 nj
also crashed forward and came into ac-
ton. They performed valuable cervice
in pursuing the fleeing Germans, killing
many and rounding up a 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 are now apparently
we'll east Of the towns reported capt.
ed The Allies having thus broke
through, the Germans north and south
for many miles are endangered. for
their lines are being turned. Retreats
on even a broader ccale than that now
in progress may, therefore, be expected.
| Officers directing the attack were
| distinctly satisfied as the news came
back in reports from airplanes and
by rumors, but finally no one came
back and that showed better than
anything else how completely the en-
! envy had been defeated. There was
report from an air patrol that Brit
| ish infantry had been seen marching
! as il 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.
Another patrol brought word of the
| Germans fleeing in the greatest dis
/ order as far east as LIE Cateau. En-
envy troops and transports, it was
said, were streaming along the roads
and over the fields, trying to make
their escape, for, with the British
cavalry galloping over the country
! and with the "whippet" tanks and
armored cars working. they realized
that it was extremely dangerous for
them to tarry anywhere.
Such a 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 in this war for a
| long time. Such a thing could only
| happen now when. the enemy is de-
| feated, disorganized. disheartened
and running for his very existence.
The troops at Bertry did not tarry
there, but kept right on marching.
| Where tho Germans will ston ia