Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-07

crossed the ruiiway embanltuent. Finally
the Germans were routed out, and the
left OF the Thlrty-seventh moved for-
ward into line with tho right, whlcn
already had made far progress and hao
broken down the cnemys desperate
defense and captured many prisoners
and guns.
with the New Dealanders, they made
an advance OF 10000 yards UP 10 yes
terday evening. fighting all the way for
1000 yards against stubborn cnemies'
and this morning they have gone much
further, with the Germans retrcating
before them.
Terrific Fighting on sambre Canal
Terrific lighting also happened during
the British attack across the Samore
canal near the Fourth Army front, on
the right wing OF Dandrecies. where
first the Thirty-second. Flft'oth ana
Eighteenth Divisions were engaged from
north to south.
They had twelve German divisions
against them, and in front Of them the
canal. thirty yards broad, with vide
reservoirs on either side. 80 that 1t
was wide stretch Of water.
In crossing the ST. quentin canal, be-
tween Bellenglise and Bellicourt, our
men. were provided with lie belts and
T6ltS, ana mere lueN a.SU udu NdlVcS sNiiN
light bridges which we're brought UP.
Before reaching the line of the canal
there was fierce fighting about and in
the village Of Catillon by the troops Of
the First Division. who carried II with
splendid courage and took many prison
era. They were helped by the gallant
service OF the tank corps. A number
OF tanks went into action, clearing their
way through the woods and crawling
around Catillon, which they girdled with
machine-gun and Hotchliss fire, All
through the days these tank pilots and
crews did not spare themselves but
fought with their units like destroyers
in Il fleet action.
Landrecies Taken. Too.
Landrecies itself, whose name IS heroic
in the early history of the British re-
treat from Mons four years ago Gt
seems n thousand years.. was taken by
the Twenty-flfth Division--that gallant
division Of nren which in April last was
lighting desperate rear-guard actions w
in Flanders, when SIR Douglas IIaiG
called upon them 20 flgnt with their
backs to the wall.
There are many new men among them
now. but the spirit Of the division re-
mains as an inspiration and a glory
to those who wear its badge ana yes
, terday they gained great honor because
they We're the first back in Landrecies
in the footsteps Of tho "Old Contempt.
blea."
on the left center, opposite Villerspo'
and La Folie farm, near Orsinval, there
were Guards on the left and the sixty
second Division on the right. The Guards
| took Villerspol during tho night before
the attack and yesterday morning met
| fierce resistance.
On their left We're battalons neal
/ Wargnies-le- Petit. They and the Sixty.
second had marshy ground in front ot
| them, and isolated farm houses were for
titled as machine-gun nests in spite ol
! civilians living in the cellars below and
surrounded by this terror of battle. There
was severe struggle across the river
Aulrelle and beyond, but the troops of a
single corps took 1000 prisoners and .
number of howit2ers and guns.
! On the extreme left Of the battlefront
the First Army did not have much fight.
! ing yesterday except az Rombies as tn,
! enemy was retiring In front OF the Brit
) ish troops east Of Nalenciennes. Man.
German divisions there have been almos
wiped out. Only ESQ men We're left ou
Of the Eleventh Division. and some regi
,nents we're down 70 fifty or sixty men
Regiment Captured Complete
4 Baden regiment which happened 4
be up TO strength was capture,
complete with twenty-five officer
and $50 men. One OF these OF
fcers said that ne voiced the genera
feeling Of the Baden troops when n
said they hated the Prussians because
under the Ludendorff regime, man
Prussian officers had received soft job
behind the line while the Baden troop
were Being slaughtered.
The Kaiser" he said, will have I
go. and with them all his breed"
When il was suggested TO him tina
the German military party was not ye
beaten, ne laughed, and said:
You should SEQ their long faces bt
hind our line
Everywhere l went today ! heard th
conviction expressed that the Germs
soldiers We're utterly tired Of the wa
and would not go on fighting nuc
longer without a revolt.
II is only the discipline OF their OF
flcers that induces them to continue fC
little while longer. and where ths
fails all fails. Their machine gunner
still the elite of their army, maintai
proud and desperate courage, but theI
is no doubt, to Judge from the prisoner
taken in large numbers. that the spir
OF the German army is being broke
| | I,y the ahsnlute ltnONleLge Of defeat