There was good news from Africa on page 7 today, with the announcement that German East Africa had been “completely cleared of the enemy,” and also from the Middle East where General Allenby’s army continued to be on the advance (same page). Meanwhile the tone of the despatch from Sir Douglas Haig referring to “fighting of an exceptionally severe nature” as the Germans continued to counter-attack at Cambrai suggested things were tough there, although as always neither the despatches not Philip Gibbs give much clue as to losses, even though the Germans claim 6,000 prisoners have been taken. Gibbs, meanwhile, also had the tale of an encounter with some Americans to relate, albeit engineers and railwaymen rather than troops (also page 7).