Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-10-10


buildings withstood the flames well.
II was quite evident, however, that
ii was no fault OF the Germans that
the city had not been leveled to the
ground by the many fires they had
kindled.
Huns Have No Hope of Success.
South OF the city. the Third and
Fourth armies rapidly overcame en-
envy opposition. The Germans
started fleeing soon after the attack
began, for they realized they were
lighting battle in which they could
hope for no success. The from.
line for 20 miles began moving rap
idly eastward. Then came reports
from airplanes, with which the sky
was literally crowded that VAN
baix had been taken. Soon the cap
ture of Harcourt was reported.
From then on tidings came in rapid
succession OF villages falling before
the allied advance.
Selvigny, Caullery, Ligny. Mon
tigny 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 being ap-
preached
The Cambrai-Le Cateau road was
crossed and then the railway be
tween st. Quentin and Bertry was
cut. Seboncourt was then in sight
{ and ETnntoiUn Nnfrn M
south had been reached by the
French. BY that time it was clear
the enemy was badly smashed and
that the British and Americans
stood on the threshold OF the wide
open country.
Stream Through Breach.
1t was about that time that the
cavalry, which had been waiting.
poured through the wide breach in
the now shattered Hindenburg sys-
TEN and streamed out into the
country beyond. Fast "whippet"
tanks and armored cars also
| crashed forward and came into &C
ton. They performed extremely
valuable services 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 cav
! airy, knowing that it had come
| through the line
/ Cavalry forces now are apparent
ly we'll east of the towns reported
captured The allies having thus
broken through, the Germans north
| and south for many miles are en-
/ dangered, for their lines are being
/ turned. Retreats on even broader
scale than that now in progress
/ may therefore be expected.
! Troops "On Parade"
! Officers directing the attack were
! satisfied as news came back in re-
/ ports from airplanes and by run
! ners, but finally one came back that
/ showed better than anything else
! how completely the enemy had been
/ defeated This was a report from
an air patrol that British infantry
/ had been seen marching as if on
} parade in a column into and
through the town of Bertry. The
men were swinging along entirely
/ unmolested by the enemy.
Another patrol brought word Of
! the Germans fleeing in great 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 tire
country and with "whippet" tanks
and armOred cars working, they
realized that it was extremely dan
gerous for them to tarry anywhere.
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 in this war for
a long time. Such a thing could
only happen now when the enemy
! is defeated, disorganized. dishearr-
ened and running for his very ex-
istence.
The troops at Bertry did not tar
ry there, but kept right on march
ing.
Where viii Huns StOpl
Where the Germans will stop is.
of course, impossible 10 tell. 1t is
Known IudI lu6S nave Deeu WI n
ing on a line running generally
back of LIE Cateau, but prisoners
say that this line is in an embryo
condition and cannot offer much
protection. Even if it did the Brit
ish would have not much trouble
in smashing it, considering their
overwhelming preponderance Of
guns, munitions and men. British
cannon had been on the move east
ward all day long. In many cases
batteries would galIop over the roll
ing plains of Artois. They would
stop. wheel about and fire for a
while, then dash on and repeat the
performance. This has developed
from a battle of movement to one
of very rapid movement.
Thoro iS No intention To let the