The next stage began before dawn on Tuesday with a
tremendous Allied offensive on the twenty-six-mile front from the north-east of Cambrai to the south-east of St. Quentin, directed against the German second line. Everywhere the attack was sudoessfuL The Allies shattered the Beaurevoir line into fragments, and the American division in the centre advanced well on the road to Le Oateau. Ten thousand prisoners and many guns were taken in this day of desperate fighting. After midnight the Canadians attacked north- east of Cambrai and crossed the canal protecting the enemy's line of retreat by the Valenciennes road. This settled the fate of Cambrai, which was occupied by our troops on Wednesday morning. The old town, spared by our guns, was then not greatly damaged, but enemy mines, exploding some hours later, laid it in ruins. Nothing can excuse this wanton and senseless barbarity.
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