Quentin, Villeret and
from Pontru to Hollom.
The first and third British armies, a little further to the north, were
moving toward Cambrai and Douai, threatening not only them, but to get
in the rear of Lens. This force proceeded up the Albert-Bapaume highway,
and on August 27th captured a considerable portion of the Hindenburg
line. On the 30th they reached Bullecourt and on September 2d crossed
the Drocourt-Queant line on a six-mile-front. This was the famous switch
line, meant to supplement the Hindenburg line and its capture meant the
complete overthrow of the German intrenched positions at this point.
[Illustration: MAP: Arras in the Southwest corner, Douai in the
Northeast.]
THE FAMOUS HINDENBURG LINE THAT CRUMBLED IN 1918.
The Germans retreated hastily to the Canal du Nord, and on September 3d
Queant was captured by an advance on a twenty mile front, along with ten
thousand prisoners. The Allied forces were moving steadily forward. On
September 18th the British reached the defenses of Cambrai and were
encircling the city of St. Quentin. On October 3d the advance upon
Cambrai forced the Germans to evacuate the Lens coal fields, and on
October 9th another advance over a thirty-mile front enabled the Allies
to occupy Cambrai and St. Quentin. On the 11th they had reached the
suburbs of Douai.
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