The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1917-10-26
FRENCH FORCES
SMASH GERMANS
Gen. Petain Makes Important
Gains of Terrain North
east of scissors.
CAPTURED 1900 PRISONERS
Advance Of Two Miles Made over Six.
Mile Front Under Unfavorable
Weather Conditions.

Washington, Oct, 24.-WhiIe the al
lied troops were busily engaged in
consolidating positions won on Mon
day in Flanders, the French forces of
General Petain struck a mighty and
unexpected blow against the German
line northeast of scissors this morn.
ing and made some of the most inn
portant gains of terrain since they
threw back the army of the German
crown prince, which was besieging
verdun.
The stroke was made over a front
Of about six miles, from the east of
Vauxaillon to Pargny-Filain. Under
rainy and generally u~nfavorable
weather conditions. the French push
ed forward all along the line aided by
audacious ~aviators, who flew over the
German positions at an altitude of
about $50 feet, using their machine
guns and penetrated the German line
at one point to a depth of two and
one,fifth miles.
Numerous important positions fell
one by one into the hands of General
Petain's men and in addition more
than $500 Germans, an enormous
amount of war material and twenty
five heavy and field guns we're cap.
ured.
Germans Flee PeIl-Mell.
The greatest depth of the drive was
in the center Of the line, where the
village of Chavignon was captured af-
ter a violent struggle, which resulted
in the enemy fleeing pell-mell. Some
Of the best troops in the army Of the
German crown prince were engaged
J in endeavoring to hold back the on
slaught but their efforts were unavail.
ing under the enthusiasm of the
; French to win positions which would
J place them more advartageously to
press on later toward Laon.
In addition to the prisoners taken
$ by the French, the Germans also suf
fered heavy casualties,
In Flanders both the British and
French troops are holding all the
q gains made in Mondays drive, north
east Of Ypres, except at one place OF
the southern fringe of the Houthols
forest, where the Germans, in a fu
rious counter attack, forced a Sigh.
retirement by the British.
Take All detectives.
Washington, Oct. 23.-The British
y and French forces in Belgium have de
It liyered another attack against tn,
German front northeast of Ypres anC
have captured all their detectives, con
l sisting of many strong positions.
n The offensive was launched south
east of P%oelcapelle and northwar,
along the southern border Of tn.
/ Houtholst Forest. The fighting from
II covered a distance of about a mile ant
a half, with the French operating Of
! the northern and the British on tn
~ southern end. Near P%oelcapelle tn
3 British drove on beyond their objeC
II tives and gained important grOunt
i, The French troops took the souther
:, defenses of the Houtholst Forest an
III in addition a series of fortified farm,
1T London, Oct. 23. Highly successfJ
! operations in the n%eighborhood {
Poelcapelle and in conjunction wit
p the French south of Houtholst flores
is are reoprted in the communicate
from Field Marshal Haig tonight Th
. whole Of the detectives, includin
Is many strong points, were captured.
re The British r.irried other valuabl
positions southeast OF %Poelcapelle b
yond their detectives and further mort
cooperating with the French, capture
the southern defenses Of Houtholi
forest, besides a series Of fortifie
W farms. The allies are establishe
ut firmly well beyond the southern bou
c. Diary of the forest.
British forces carried out a Dor
bardment OF the naval works at o
RI tend yesterday, it was officially a
on nounced today. Photographs TAX,
show the results of the bombardmer
to have been satisfactory.
nd The enemy by a strong counter ;
ri tack in the vicinity of the Ypres-St
den railway checked the British a
III vance astride the railway. but els
G.. where were unable to prevent pm
I'M ress. Heavy casualties were infllct
on the Germans, and 200 prisone
were captured
Another Loan TO Allies.