The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-24
Haig'S Armies Smash Outer
German DefenSeS.
Advancing Now on Enemy
Bases in Rear.
ENEMY LINES ARE SHAKEN
French Start New Offensive
South of Disc.
British Airmen Report Valen-
ciennes Evacuated.

(By the Associated Press)
Field Marshal Haig's Third and
Fourth armies. having smas shed thru
the outer defenses of the strategically
important German line south of
Nalenciepnes, continue successfully to
hammer their way toward Maubeuge
and Mons. Today's attack started
from the new front gained Wednesday.
hiCh represented an advance of be-
tween three and four miles on front
Ct fifteen miles. in which more than
5000 prisoners and many guns are
reported to have been taken. The
enemy is resisting stubbornly, but the
British are forging ahead. capturing
villages and other important points.
Capture a Stronghold.
West of Maubeuge the British have
taken the village of Beaudigneis, one
and sne-half miles southwest of LIE
C-uesroy. the most important strong
hold defending Msubeuge on the west.
In the same region they have crossed
the natural barrier of the Ecaillon
river and rapidly are placing Falen-
cienpes in a pocket. Apparently the
British are not desirous OF taking
Nalenciennes by fighting the Germans
in the streets of the town. but plan to
outflanll it. The town now is partly
surrounded and the menace to it has
been increased by the advance on the
south and the capture of the entire
Rdismes forest to the north.
The British thrust undoubtedly has
badly shaken the German defenses
south of Nalenciennes. which are so
important to the security of the Ger
man line northward to the Dutch
border and south and east to the
Neuse. Unless the enemy can hold
the British attacks today it would
seem they would have to continue
their retreat in Belgium and also give
up ground south and east of the OiSe.
French in An Offensive.
While the British are attacking
north of the Sambre canal to the
ScheIdt, the French have begun an
offensive south of the Disc. The
Sambre canal has been crossed east of
Grand Verify and the French have
maintained their gains against strong
German counter attacks Between the
Serre and the Oise and further east
the French maintain their pressure
and have gained ground south of
Montcornet
Infantry fighting has died down
cast of the Aisne in the region of
Nouziers, the Germans having failed
in strong efforts on Tuesday and
"Wednesday to dislodge the French
from strong height positions. General
Ciouraud now commands the inn
portant defiles north and south of the
great forest of Boult, north of the
Argcnne.
on the front west of the Meuse the
Americans maintain the important
gains made Wednesday and are in a
position to bring about a German re-
tirement on the center and left of the
line Wednesdays gains were mostly
on the extreme right and outflanked
the enemy front westward toward the
ArgOnne.
FyaCIate Valencicnncs.
Canadian Headquarters in France
Oct. 24.-British airmen alta ached tC
the Canadian forces holding the line
north of Nalenciennes report ina
NaIenciennes has been evacuated by
German soldiers except for posts at g
few points in the city. The Germans
however, are clinSing obstinately tt
the east bank of the Scheldt cana
north of Nalenciennes. The sun wa:
shining today for the first time in ter
days. bringing a pleasant relief to th'
Canadians who had been trudginG
forward over almost impa assable road
and in miserable weather. Villages
left behind by the Germans are intact
aNho they have been systematicall. IL.
sacked and looted. All bridges have
been destroyed.
Hard Fighting There.
With the Allied Armies in Franco
and Belgium, Oct. 24.-HArd fighting
the British attack. The Germans ev
erywhere are offering stubborn resist
ance.
There are further signs that TIL
Germans either are carrying out or ar
on the verge of beginning a retrea
from the Scheldt line as the British
north of Valenciennes push out in tn
direction of Mons and Maubeuge
They are less than eighteen mile
from Mons and about fifteen from
Maubeuge.
There was sharp fighting at Bousie
before it was captured and after tha
good deal of work has been don
before all the Germans remaining il
the town were subdued. AS the enem
retreated he employed mines .unde
roads and railways but no great dam
age was done.
Many Alsatians have been cap
tured. A large number of these eX
pressed desire to join the Frenc
army. saying they had been drasge
into the German army against thei
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