In the Cambrai region, Sir Douglas Haig on Friday week
was faced by the Canal du Nord running due south from the Senses to Mceuvres, by the Hindenburg Line drawn south-eastward from Mceuvres to Le Catelet, and, from that village due south to St. Quentin, by the Sohelde Canal with the Hindenburg defences behind it. He attacked the first two of these three sections, thus striking east and north-east at Cambrai. At every point our gallant divi- sions, with the Canadians in the centre and the Americans on the right opposite Le Catelet, were successful. The crossing of the un- finished Canal du Nord, a broad ditch sixty feet deep, under heavy fire was a wonderful feat. The tanks are said to have crossed on the tops of sonic obsolete tanks which plunged into the pit. The Cana- dians and the 11th Diviiion took Bourlon Wood in their stride. The advance, continued last Saturday, carried our men through the Hindenburg Line up to the bend of the Schelde Canal south-west of Cambrai, and across it at Marcoing and Cantaing, two miles from the town. In the two days sixteen thousand prisoners were taken. Last Sunday Sir Douglas Haig, while pressing his advanoe on Gambrel, extended his front of attack to the south of Le Catelet. The 46th (North Midland) Division was ordered to cross the Schelde Canal at Bellenglise and storm the Hindenburg Line beyond. Under a murderous fire these heroes achieved the seemingly impossible. They swam the canal, brOke through the maze of fortified works, and advanced up the ridge beyond to Magny la Fosse. On their left the American corps, supported by the Australians; stormed the Hindenburg Line above the canal-tunnel north of Bellicourt and advanced well to the eastward. Further north our troops took La Vacquerie and made progress across the canal-loop south and west of Cambrai, while the 63rd Division and the Canadians worked up to the junction of the Bapaume and Arras roads outside the town. The total number of prisoners had increased to twenty-two thousand, with three hundred guns.
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