Daily Mirror Headlines: The Hindenburg Line, Published 22 November 1917

Great British Victory

Over 8,000 Prisoners 'Important Progress' - German Reinforcements Driven from Villages.

Scottish troops advance over five miles

Counter-attacks Against Our New Positions Smashed - Tanks Again Give Great Assistance in the Push

Our Great Victory

The surprise attack on the Hindenburg Line, delivered by General Sir Julian Byng, has been crowned with magnificent success. British troops, aided by the fine work of the tanks, have penetrated German defences to a depth of five miles, captured many villages and strong points, and taken over 8,000 prisoners. Our cavalry are also reported in action and are pouring through the Hindenburg Line.

French Push

Our Allies have also struck a blow in the Craonne sector, advancing a quarter of a mile on a front of 1,100 yards south of Juvincourt.

Byng's Drive Through Hindenburg Line

Splendid Successes West and South West of Cambrai

(British Official)

General Headquarters, Wednesday 10.30pm: Important progress has again been made today west and southwest of Cambrai, though rain has fallen continuously. The reinforcements which the enemy has hurried up to the battlefield to oppose our advance have been driven out of a further series of villages and other fortified positions, and many additional prisoners have been taken.

Tanks have again given great assistance to the advance. On our right we have made progress in the direction of Crevecoeur-sur-L'Escourt. North east of Mannières we have captured the enemy's double line of trenches on the east bank of the Canal de L'Escourt (the Scheldt Canal).

Sharp fighting has taken place in this neighbourhood and hostile counter-attacks have been driven off. North of Marcoing, the village of Noyelle de L'Escourt was captured early in the morning. Here also heavy fighting has taken place, and hostile counter-attacks have been successfully repulsed.

During the morning Scottish troops moving north east from Flesquieres captured the German defensive lines south west of Cantaing and the village itself, together with 500 prisoners.

Later in the day they contained their advance and have established themselves in positions more than five miles behind the former German front line.

North of Annex West Riding battalions have been engaged with the enemy south and south west of Bourlon Wood.

Further west Ulster regiments have crossed the Bapaume-Cambrai road and have entered Moeuvres.

During the day strong hostile counter-attacks against our new positions in the neighbourhood of Bullecourt have been defeated.

The number of prisoners which have passed through our collecting stations exceeds 8,000 including 180 officers.

The number of guns captured has not yet been ascertained.

Led By Tanks

(British Official)

Germany, Headquarters, Wednesday 12.15pm: Yesterday morning the Third Army, under the command of General the Hon. Sir Julian Byng, delivered a number of attacks between St Quentin and the River Scarpe.

These attacks were carried out without previous artillery preparation and in each case the enemy was completely surprised.

Our troops have broken into the enemy's positions to a depth of between four and five miles on a wide front, and have captured several thousand prisoners and a number of guns. Our operations are continuing.

At the hour of the assault on the principal front of the attack, a large number of tanks moved forward in advance of the infantry and broke through the successive belts of German wire which were of great depth and strength.

Second for System Taker

Following through the gaps made by the tanks, English, Scottish and Irish regiments swept over the enemy's outposts and stormed the first defensive system of the Hindenburg Line on the whole front. Our infantry and tanks then pressed on in accordance with programme and captured the German second system of defence more than a mile beyond. The latter is known as the Hindenburg Support Line. In the course of this advance East County troops took the hamlet of Besavia and Lateau Wood after stiff fighting.

English rifle regiments and light infantry captured La Vacquerie and formidable defences of the spur known as Welsh Ridge.

Other English county troops stormed the village of Ribecourt and fought their way through Costelet Wood.

Rapid Progress

Highland Territorial battalions crossed the Grand Ravine and entered Flesquieres, where fierce fighting took place. West Riding Territorials captured Havriacourt and the German trench system north of the village, while Ulster battalions covering the latter's left flank moved northwards up the west bank of the Canal du Nord.

Later in the morning our advance was continued and rapid progress was made at all points. English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh battalions secured the crossings of the canal at Mannières and captured Marcoing and Neuf Wood.

The West Riding troops, who had taken Havriacourt, made remarkable progress east of the Canal du Nord, storming the villages of Graincourt and Annex and, with the Ulster troops operating west of the canal, carried the whole of the German line northwards to the Bapaume-Cambrai road.

Territorials' Fine Work

West Lancashire Territorials broke into the enemy's positions east of Epehy and Irish troops have captured important sections of the Hindenburg Line between Bullecourt and Fontaine-les-Croisilles. The number of prisoners, guns and material captured cannot yet be estimated.

The spell of fine dull weather which favoured our preparations for our attacks broke early yesterday. Heavy rain fell during the night and the weather is now stormy. (Reuters' correspondent, British Army)

France, Wednesday: It is believed that during yesterday's operations over 5,000 prisoners were captured.

The Air Ministry

Mr Bonar Law, in answer to a question, told the House of Commons yesterday that Lord Cowdray's resignation as Air Minister had been accepted. A successor had not yet been appointed.

Berlin Hiding the Truth of Haig's Surprise

Foe Says British Attack Was Heralded by 'Strong Artillery'

(French Official)

To the west of the Miette, about 3pm today, we attacked a salient in the German line to the south of Juvincourt on a front of about 1,100 yards and an average depth of 440 yards.

Our troops reaching all their objectives captured the strong defences of the enemy. In the course of this operation we took 175 prisoners.

Between the Miette and the Aisne our patrols brought back about 40 prisoners. The artillery fighting was lively throughout this region.

(German Official)

Wednesday night: In the afternoon strong French advances were commenced on the front from Craonne to Berry au Bac.

(The distance from Craonne to Berry au Bac is about six miles. Craonne on the Chemia des Dames, is about 12 miles south east of Laon. The Hindenburg Line runs: Douai-Cambrai-La Cateau to St Quentin-La Fère-Laon.)

Our Cavalry Pour Through the Gap

Horsemen Take Batteries And Cut Down Gunners

(From a Special Correspondent)

War Correspondent's Camp, Wednesday: We have torn to shreds the Hindenburg Line. At its strongest points the cavalry are pouring through. Early yesterday afternoon all the trustworthy news pointed to a glorious success.

The cavalry were moving up to cross the German lines in the direction of Cambrai many hours, indeed before them, and there was a sense of open fighting as opposed to years of underground warfare which exhilarated the whole Army.

But great progress has been made since then and today one passed along numerous lines of horsemen moving in the right direction.

Two bodies of them charged enemy batteries, cut down the gunners and captured the guns - in our case three, in the other, I think, seven guns.

Byng's Secret

Rarely has a more dramatic stroke been delivered in war than we dealt the Germans yesterday, says Reuters' special correspondent at the Correspondent's Headquarters, France. We have penetrated into the great impregnable Hindenburg Line at numerous points in a wide thrust, and it was primarily the tanks that did it.

The attack seems to have come upon the Germans as a complete surprise. Care had been taken to render it a surprise, the greatest secrecy being offered in regard to our plans. A fleet of tanks had to be brought up close to the line.

The ground, except for certain narrow areas is dry and well covered with thick grass, the withered growth of last summer making excellent going for tanks or men.

Ten Big Ships Down

The Admiralty shipping returns shows that ten big ships were sunk last week, as compared with one during the preceding period.

Airmen Give Foe No Rest

(British Air Official)

10.30pm On 20 November: Our aeroplanes attempted to work throughout the day in conjunction with our operations between St Quentin and the River Scarpe.

Low clouds and mist and a strong westerly wind, with drizzle and occasional rain throughout the day, made it necessary for our pilots to fly at 50 feet from the ground. Even at that height they were at times quickly lost in the mist.

Continual attempts were made to regain contact with our advancing troops, but this was rendered almost impossible by the weather conditions. Many bombs were dropped on the enemy's batteries, lorries, aeroplanes, transports and railways.

Batteries and small groups of infantry were attacked with machine-gun fire.

Valuable information was gained despite the very difficult conditions.

Only five hostile machines were seen all day on the battlefront. Eleven of our machines are missing, their loss being due to the mist and the exceptionally low height at which they were compelled to fly.