HAIG'S ATTACK ON CAMBRAI

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 52, 24 November 1917, Page 7

HAIG'S ATTACK ON CAMBRAI

LATEST DETAILS OF THE FIGHTING

HOW THE CAVALRY WENT INTO ACTION

By 'feletrraph—Press Association—Oooyrisht '

: London, November 22. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Advancing yesterday, we attacked and captured Fontaine Notre Dame (three miles west of Cambrai), and took a number of prisoners."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. (Rec. November 23, 11.5 p.m.) , London, November 23. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"The day was spent on the southern battlefront in consolidating the large area wherever wo had advanced during the last two days. This was successfully carried out at all points except at Fontaine Notre Dame, which the enemy has retaken by a counterattack.- Much credit is due to tho transporation service for thoir rapid concentration in the recent operations. Eoads and railways, broad gauge and light, have developed, and since our advanco they ha'vo been extended in a manner which contributed largely to the success of our preparations and the subsequent operations. Intense artillery activity is noted on the northern battlefront in tho neighbourhood of Passcliendaeio. There' were no infantry actions by either side."—Aus'.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router.

THRUST DRIVEN EIGHT MILES DEEP mi,- tt -i-j Ti l i. London, November 22. The United Press, correspondent states that the- tanks, cavalry, and infantry are still advancing. The correspondent's personal estimate of the prisoners is well ever 10,000. The British, have penetrated' in places to a xt£ n ..? » y Olg * mlles - Seven c °unter-attacks failed miserably.-Aus.-JN.Z, Cable .Assn. .

BRITISH STILL ADVANCING

(Rec. November 23, 8.10 p.m.)

„„„.,,-, . , London, November 22. Hie United Press correspondent says that the British are still advancing. The cavalry is preceded by the tanks and followed by the infantry Tlie correspondent believes that the number of guns taken considerably exceeds J the figures announced, while tlie capture of machine-mins, trench mortars and other booty are important. "Tho recent operations smack of old-timo war in the open, with cavalry on tho move along the roads, across tho fields, jumping the trenches, and following the tracks which tho tanks made through the entanglements. Our losses were very slight—tho smallest, in fact. Tanks, infantry, and artillery combined in stopping seven counter-attacks before tho latter had got fairly under way. Four occurred in tho region of Bulecourt, where the British took the principal defence Hue of the Hindenburg system, and three others south-west of Cambrai. Of tlie latter, the hrst was against Noyelles, the second between Noyolles and Masnieres, and the third against Masnieres. The weather is mild bub foce.V."—Aus.-N Z Cable Assn.

THE GERMAN REPORT

(Rec. November 23, 8.10 p.m.)

London, November 22. A German official report states: "Wo repulsed British thrusts northward of Lens, southward of the Scarpe, and in the neighbourhood of Riencourt. The battle south-west of Cambrai con tinues. The enemy failed to break through, gaining only a little ground beyond our Wont lines. Wo drove back tho enemy to Anneiix and Fontaine, and recaptiirecT our positions southward of Rumill.y. The wreckage of British tanks lies over tho whole of the battlefield. "Strong French thrusts between' Craonne and Berry-au-Bao (on the Aisno) failed, except north-east of Lav'ille aux Dois."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.Reuter. (Rec. November 24, 0.35 a.m.) London, November 23. A German official report states:—"Fresh English attacks following a Btrong artillery preparation south-west of Cnmbrai failed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Rcuter. ; a HOW THE CAVALRY WENT INTO ACTION

"THE FINEST SPECTACLE OP 'THE WAR."

~_,.,.„ London, November 22. Mr. Percival Phillips writes: "On Wednesday night the breach in the Hmdoiiburg line proved the gate to a greater victory. Through the gap torn by our tanks and infantry there poiuod to-day a steady stream of cavalry. Lamous British regiments are now realising tho dream of forty months. It was the finest spectacle I have seen in this war. ,- As they swept confidently across the battered Hindenburg line, up the smooth, German-made road, where, twenty-four hours earlier, another totunstki detachment had led the way, they were saluted by cheers from the crews of the tanks and the . infantry. Since noon on Tuesday the cavalry have been in actio:: among the hills and valleys.which skirt Cambrai Plain, rounding up fugitives, clearing the villages, and steadily widening the salient. Sabreing the Gunners in the Cood Otcl-Fasiiloncd Way. "The cavalry rode'down the German roarguard columns and charged l German batteries, including two field batteries which were emigly' hidden in a hollow. The horsemen, swinging their.sabres, cut down, ike gun crews before they could escape. The" cavalry are untrammelled by uny kind-of trenches in the region they hold. To-day there is heavy and continuous rain, but the horses have sull a fairly decent footing, and the untrodden open country between the captured villages gives them ample room for movement; \ Wo broke the Hindenburg line between Havrincourt and Masnieres, a distance of six miles, penetrating five miles. By this morning it was. reported , that the wings of our line wore much further north than Graiucoiirt, behind the broken western limb of the Hindenburg line. Wo have taken six thousand prisoners south-west of Cambrai alone, but the total will bo considerably, greater before we have finished. Tho cavalry rescued four hundred and fifty wretched trench peasants in Masnieres last night, and a thousand others at' Romilly this moTiiiiig. . > v . ■ . . The Land Cruisers , Trafalgar.- ■ • ' ' "We have given the Hun ono of IV most demoralising blows s'Uce he precipitated Armageddon. As a high officer grimly said: 'He is still swinging in tmd-air. General Byng's avalaiidie.-df tnnke and men fell'where t. was least expected. There never was such a. surprise us when the tanks fiVitcned out the enemy's, defence without tho : ightest artillery preparation. TM-, tanks went into battle led by their Commander-in-chief, whose tank was sofn? distance ahead of the first wave, flying his batlle-ftaq;. The mrssnge lie tint to every, tank was: "We expect every tank to.do its damndest." The ' orews had a shiver of apprehension when the engines first .tuned up, as it seemed inevitable that the enemy outposts -uoulcT 'henr them; but tilers .was/, no alarm. Most of the-tanks moved forward at twenty past sis. precisely-into, the unshelled valley.-- The most"exciting point was .'at Flesquieree, which , village was embedded in tbo Hindenburg support t,yitem. Tha tanks' experiences were not'altogether unchoquered."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Arisn. " "

THE FIGHT FOR FLESQUIERES RIDGE

(Rec. November 23, 7.30 p.m.)

ir to ■!• «•!! • London, November 22. Mr. rinlip Qibbs writes: "The Gβ rmarvs kept their nerve, and served tile machine-guns till the tanks silenced them. Others sniped our men at close quarters, hut in most cases the enemy broke down as won as tlio tanks appeared. A few of the tanks lmd bad luck by shell-fire or by being bogged. Uno op two lay overturned head downwards where they had attempted to negotiate Btoep,biuiks, but tho tanks' casualties were light. A large number of them fought all day on Flesquieres Ridge and around Havrincourt Chateau where tho enomy held out for some time. Tho Germans fought bravely at Havrincourt Chateau, Lateau Wood, and the village of Flesquieres. 'This defence of the villaee upon the ridge against the Highlanders was a serious impediment to our general advance. A special attack was organised early on Tuesday in a novel manner, by tanks and cavalry skirmishes, tho infantry following in open order. The village seems to havo been stormed and the ndge cleared. Later in the forenoon there was fierce fighting about Flesquieres, and many gallant a'ctions were recorded. The Duriiams charged seven German guns which had been firing at point-blank rango on our advancing tanks, and captured the guns, killing the gunners. The West Yorkshires did .a similar exploit at Ennmy Chapel, where they charged and captured three seventy-sevens.' Before five o'clock in the evening Marcoing and Masniereo had been secured, and our troops advanced steadily, gathering prisoners and occupying villages. They found numbers of French civilians who rejoiced to meet their liberators. ■ After heavy fighting tho troops cleared Lateau Wood and mopped up tho snipers at Rihecourt. It is reported that the cavalry have reached Noyellee. The enemy counter-attacked on..the left at 8.30 o'clock m the evening. Then came a cavalry charge against the guns at Noyelles, which they afterwards bought in. Fighting ceased for the most part durine the night, but. the infantry, cavalry, and tanks advanced again at dawn on Wednesday. The greatest fighting was upon the left of our advance."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE FRENCH SUCCESS AT JUVINCOURT

GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED WITH SERIOUS LOSSES,

,-,■., . London, November 22. A French official communique states: "The Germans this morning made counter-attacks on our new positions sou th of Jiivincc-urt. We repulsed them with serious losses. We took 400 prisoners yesterday."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable As.sn.-Reuter. ' (Rec. November 23, 11.5 p.m.) .; . London, November 23. A French official report states:—"An artillery duel of marked intensity is proceeding in the region north of the Chemin des Dames, between the Aisne and La Miette, in the Champagne, and on the right bank of the Meuse. A violent" artillery action is in progress in the sector north of Chambrettes."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.-Reuter.

WESTERN FRONT A GERMAN NIGHTMARE

SHADOW OF IMPENDING DEBACLE.

London, November 22JPhe Dutch correspondent of "The Times" declares that a3 the result of personal observation he is convinced that the time for a German disaster of groat magnitude is impending on the West front. Flanders is a vast shambles, and Belgium a huge hospital. German troops call Flanders'"The Gates of Hell," and consider they are sentenced to death if they are sent there. There is much disaffection and desertion.' Fifteen thousand deserters have reached Holland, despite rigorous precautions on iho frontier. The frightful slaughter has made the West a German nightmare. The Kaiser, during a recent visit, was impressed with the fact that the gravest dauber is here. Shaking his fist at Passohendaele Ridge, he exclaimed: "England, at all costs, must be beaten to her knees."—"The Timea."