WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

A DEMORALISING BLOW. CRi'AT WORK OF THE CAVALRY. London. Nov. 22. Mr. Percival Phillips recounts that tlio cavalry rode down the rearguard columns and charged the (Jcrnian batteries, including two field batteries snugly hidden 111 a liolloiv, where the horsemen were swinging their sabres to cut down the nun crews before they could escape. The cavalry is not trammelled by any kind of trenches in the region they hold. Today tHerp is heavy and continuous rain, hut the horses still have a fairlv decent footing, and the untrodden open country between the captured villages gives ample room for movement. ■We broke the Ilindenburg line between r-Tavrineourt and Niergnies, a distance of six miles, penetrating five miles by this morning. It is reported that the wings of our line are much further north than Graincourt behind the broken western limb of the Ilindenburg line. We have taken WOO prisoners soilth-w&t of Cambrai alone, but the total will be considerably greater before we hav<! iinishod. The cavalry rescued 450 wretched I'rench peasants in Masnieres last night and a thousand others at Rumillv this mornin.f. We hare given the Hun one of the most demoralising blows since lie precipitated Armageddon. As a high officer ir'inlv said, lie is still swin?iii" in midair. " ' ADVANCE OF THE TANKS. Sir Julian Byng'a avalanche of in-' and men fell where it was least expected. Never was such a surprise as when the tanks flattened out the enemv defences without the slightest artillery preparation. * 1 The tanks went into battle led bv their commander-in-chief, whose tank was some distance ahead of the first wave, flying his battle flag. The message he .sent to every tank was 'W e expect every tank to do its damnedest." The crews had a shiver of nppreh-n- ---■ ion when the engines first timed up as it seemed inevitable the enemy outposts must hear, but no alarm was •1. .11. Most of the tanks moved forI'aHev T!° !)r ° oisCly h,t ° an pi '. Tllc rcost exciting point was' h-squicres, where (he village wa , t»m'' otl Tt n H . inJc ' nbl,r ? support sys- , r, ie experiences of the tanks here "ere npt altogether unchequered. THE CAMBRAI PUSH. FURTHER success. I C- „ , London, Nov. 22. i '. lr .^ 0,, 0' as Ifnig reports: Advancing I Sne 11 Xnt n""*" 1 0,1,1 F <> n " prison'eis Wit " 11 I,nmber ° f OAIN OF EIGHT MILES. ' 10,000 PRISONERS TAKExV. ti rr , London, Nov. 22. thnf (1 + , PreS3 corr ' s P°n<lent states t at the tanks cavalry, and infantry UP stl ", advancing. The correspondent's personal estimate of the prisoners is well over 10,000. r l he British have penetrated in places to a depth of eight miles. Several counter-attacks failed miserably. A DUTCH PROPHECY. > GREAT GERMAN DISASTER IMPENDING. THE KAISER ENRAGED.. London, Nov. 22 A Dutch correspondent declares that, from present .personal observation, he is convinced that a German disaster of great magnitude is impending on the West front. Flanders is a vast shambles and i Belgium a. huge hospital. The troops call Flanders "the gates of hell," and consider they are. sentenced to death if sent there. There i,s much disaffection and desertion. There are 13,000 deserters in Holland, despite the rigorous frontier precaution. The frightful slaughter made on the west front is a German nightmare. The Kaiser, during his recent visit, ivas impressed with the very grave danger here, and, shaking his' fist at the Passchendaelc ridge, lie exclaimed: "England at; all costs must be beaten, to her "knees." , CAVALRY WORK London, Nov. 22. Mr.. Percival Phillips says that on Wednesday the breach in the Hindenburg line proved the gate to a greater victory. Through the gap torn by our i tanks ar.J infantry there poured to-day a steady stream of cavalry and famous British regiments are now realising the dream of forty months. It was" the finest, spectacle I have seen in this war as they swept confidently across the battered Miiiflenbnnr line up the smooth German-made road. Twenty-four hours earlier another foiv tunate detachment had led. the way, , saluted by cheers from the tank crew'" and infantry. Since noon on Tuesday the cavalry have been in action among the hills and valleys which skirt, the Cambrai plain, rounding up fugitives, clearing villages and steadily widening (lie salient. FRENCH REPULSE COUNTERATTACK. London, Nov. 22. A French communique reports: The Germans in the morning counter-attack-ed onr new positions south of Juvin court. Wo repulsed them with serious losses. Wo took 400 prisoners yesterday. THE USUAL GERMAN CLAIM. Alls, and N.Z. Cable Assoc and NeiK"T. Received Nov. 21, 12 ,'Jo a.m. London. Nov 2:1. Wireless German officii: Fresh ■ lish attacks, following siring preparation south-west o; Cambrai, (ailed