https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/register/the-glorious-battle-of-cambrai-whvmxhzpp
It must not be forgotten that the Germans have at their disposal four lines of railway which converge upon Cambrai and therefore enable them to concentrate reinforcements rapidly. Should Cambrai fall, the results may be very far-reaching indeed. But enough has been accomplished already to warrant all the gratitude which is pouring forth to Sir Douglas Haig and Sir Julian Byng upon a battle which has immensely heartened the Army, the country, and our Allies. No victory in the war has ever come at a more welcome moment. It has made a deep impression, not only by its magnitude, but because it contains, in a signal degree, the elements of prescience and imagination. The enemy boast of casualties inflicted upon the Tanks. Casualties were expected, but it was the Tanks that made triumph possible. They levelled the wire, and thus obviated the necessity of a long artillery preparation. Without their aid we should not have taken ten thousand German prisoners, and we are entitled to feel fresh pride in this purely British development of the mechanical side of warfare. Of the work of the cavalry we have still to learn full details, but we believe their casualties have so far been light. Our airmen have never surpassed their exploits on Tuesday and Wednesday, when many of them were repeatedly flying at the astonishingly low level of fifty feet from the ground.
november 23, 1917
The glorious battle of Cambrai
The ground won in the first phase of the battle of Cambrai is being successfully consolidated, except that we have not been able to hold the village of Fontaine-Notre-Dame, which lies two-and-a-half miles west of the town of Cambrai. The big Bourlon wood, however, should soon be untenable for the enemy. We are now able to estimate more carefully the results already achieved. The Germans say in their bulletin that we have gained “a little ground”. As a matter of fact, our progress has been so rapid that in two days the Third Army has gained at least half as much ground as was captured during the whole battle of the Somme; and we are inclined to think that the total is nearer three-fifths.It must not be forgotten that the Germans have at their disposal four lines of railway which converge upon Cambrai and therefore enable them to concentrate reinforcements rapidly. Should Cambrai fall, the results may be very far-reaching indeed. But enough has been accomplished already to warrant all the gratitude which is pouring forth to Sir Douglas Haig and Sir Julian Byng upon a battle which has immensely heartened the Army, the country, and our Allies. No victory in the war has ever come at a more welcome moment. It has made a deep impression, not only by its magnitude, but because it contains, in a signal degree, the elements of prescience and imagination. The enemy boast of casualties inflicted upon the Tanks. Casualties were expected, but it was the Tanks that made triumph possible. They levelled the wire, and thus obviated the necessity of a long artillery preparation. Without their aid we should not have taken ten thousand German prisoners, and we are entitled to feel fresh pride in this purely British development of the mechanical side of warfare. Of the work of the cavalry we have still to learn full details, but we believe their casualties have so far been light. Our airmen have never surpassed their exploits on Tuesday and Wednesday, when many of them were repeatedly flying at the astonishingly low level of fifty feet from the ground.
The battle is not yet over, and its full fruits have still to be gathered. If it fulfils further expectations, it may materially alter the whole position on the Western front. We await later developments with confidence.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-11-21/register/british-airman-lost-in-the-mist-r0vht9b8p
When out in company with another machine, he saw two enemy aeroplanes, and rose into a higher stratum of clouds to attack from above. There he lost his companion and, as the mist thickened below him, he failed to get in touch with the enemy. He tried to fly west by the compass in order to get home, but evidently his compass was quite wrong.
He came to a big town with a river by it, and saw parties of Germans working by the river. Supposing them to be gangs of prisoners, he circled round the town and finally chose a landing place on the common. Wisely, he remained in his seat and kept his engine running till a peasant came along, when he asked whether he was in the French or the British area. To his astonishment, he found he was in Germany, and the peasant indicated the direction of the front.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-11-21/register/british-airman-lost-in-the-mist-r0vht9b8p
november 21, 1917
British airman lost in the mist
From our Special Correspondent, war correspondents’ headquarters. One of our flying men recently had an extraordinary experience when he was lost in one of the thick mists which sometimes come so suddenly over Flanders.When out in company with another machine, he saw two enemy aeroplanes, and rose into a higher stratum of clouds to attack from above. There he lost his companion and, as the mist thickened below him, he failed to get in touch with the enemy. He tried to fly west by the compass in order to get home, but evidently his compass was quite wrong.
He came to a big town with a river by it, and saw parties of Germans working by the river. Supposing them to be gangs of prisoners, he circled round the town and finally chose a landing place on the common. Wisely, he remained in his seat and kept his engine running till a peasant came along, when he asked whether he was in the French or the British area. To his astonishment, he found he was in Germany, and the peasant indicated the direction of the front.
Without waiting to ask any more questions the airman rose, and had to fly over the town to get away. By this time he had been seen, and anti-aircraft guns and machine-guns opened on him. There was a great hue and cry, and unfortunately he had no bombs to drop. He could only run for it, which he did.
He passed by enemy aeroplanes in the mist, but was himself undetected by them. At intervals he dipped down close to the ground, but wherever he came down there were still German uniforms on the roads and in the fields, so he had to rise again. Guiding himself by the direction of the wind as it drifted the smoke of the chimneys below him, he kept on his course, and at last came to a town which he recognized as Tournai. Thence it was easy to get to Lille, and so back over our lines at Armentières. Here to his joy he saw men in khaki. He was almost at his last drop of petrol, and came down on the first favourable spot he saw.
Where he had been neither he nor anybody else knows, but the incident shows, with our airmen as adventurous as they are, how simple is the explanation when you read in the communiqué that “one of our machines is missing.”
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-11-22/register/a-swift-sudden-blow-08dtvxm86
Next to the secrecy with which this attack was planned, the great feature of the operation was the share played by the Tanks. The condition of the ground here, which is little cut up by shell-holes and is dry, made their use possible, as it has not been of late in Flanders. His Majesty’s landships have at last had a real opportunity, and they seem to have made magnificent use of it.
He passed by enemy aeroplanes in the mist, but was himself undetected by them. At intervals he dipped down close to the ground, but wherever he came down there were still German uniforms on the roads and in the fields, so he had to rise again. Guiding himself by the direction of the wind as it drifted the smoke of the chimneys below him, he kept on his course, and at last came to a town which he recognized as Tournai. Thence it was easy to get to Lille, and so back over our lines at Armentières. Here to his joy he saw men in khaki. He was almost at his last drop of petrol, and came down on the first favourable spot he saw.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-11-22/register/a-swift-sudden-blow-08dtvxm86
november 22, 1917
A swift, sudden blow
We believe we have sprung today as sharp and bitter a surprise upon the Germans as they have ever experienced. When all attention was concentrated on the Flanders front, and the Passchendaele ridge in particular, we have suddenly struck at the main Hindenburg Line in the old Somme area, beyond Bapaume. The blow, when it fell, was completely unexpected.Next to the secrecy with which this attack was planned, the great feature of the operation was the share played by the Tanks. The condition of the ground here, which is little cut up by shell-holes and is dry, made their use possible, as it has not been of late in Flanders. His Majesty’s landships have at last had a real opportunity, and they seem to have made magnificent use of it.
The strength of the positions selected for attack was enormous, the Hindenburg Line consisting, in effect, of three elaborate trench systems defended with tier after tier of the stoutest wire. That wire had not been cut for there was no preliminary bombardment, or any warning to the enemy that an attack was impending. It was the Tanks’ first duty to roll out that wire, so that the infantry could get through.
The British cavalry has been taking a brilliant part in the great coup. In at least two places cavalry have charged batteries, sabred gunners, and captured guns. They have taken villages and, having dismounted, held them till the infantry came up. One must, however, have misgivings that in such weather, where the going is getting so slippery and heavy, horses may well be growing tired.
As to the part played by the Tanks, it was overwhelming. A whole grand fleet of them was engaged, and they were led by their distinguished commanding officer in person, who flew his Admiral’s flag at the peak of his Tank and sent a message to all his captains on the eve of the engagement which ran: “England expects that every Tank today will do its damnedest.” Every Tank seems to have done it.
We have penetrated so deep into the enemy’s territory that we have taken villages full of their civilian population. This alone would show the completeness of the surprise, for the first evidence that the Germans are fearful of any threat is the evacuation of all civilians.
The British cavalry has been taking a brilliant part in the great coup. In at least two places cavalry have charged batteries, sabred gunners, and captured guns. They have taken villages and, having dismounted, held them till the infantry came up. One must, however, have misgivings that in such weather, where the going is getting so slippery and heavy, horses may well be growing tired.
As to the part played by the Tanks, it was overwhelming. A whole grand fleet of them was engaged, and they were led by their distinguished commanding officer in person, who flew his Admiral’s flag at the peak of his Tank and sent a message to all his captains on the eve of the engagement which ran: “England expects that every Tank today will do its damnedest.” Every Tank seems to have done it.
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