The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-05
Line is
AFLAME
ENTENTE WIN IN
BATTLE ALONG A
20O-MILE FRONT
Resistance of the German
Armies Is Crushed.
On Both Sides OF Valenciennes
Allies Gain.
DUTCH FRONTIER TO MEUSE
Americans, English, French,
BeIgians in Advances.
Everywhere the German Forces
Are Losing Ground.
Resistance of the German
Armies Is Crushed.
On Both Sides OF ValencienneS
Allies Gain.
DUTCH FRONTIER To MEUSE
Americans, English, French.
BeIgians in Advances.
Everywhere the German Forces
Are Losing Ground.


From the Dutch frontier to east OF
the Meuse the 200 mile battle line Is
afla1ne today as the British, Frenoa'
Americans and Belgians crush the re-
sistance of the enemy and push on for
important gains. Everywhere on the
long line the allies are progressing
and on the French sectors between
Disc and the Aisne the Germans are
Withdrawing on Marie and Montcor-
net. Field Marshal Haig has taken
the strong poi of lie Quesnoy ana
is pressing on Maubeuge, while the
Americans are fighting their way
across the Neuse southwest of the
railroad center OF Montmedy.
Push on ut Vaicnc.cnnes.
In the region north and south of
Valenciennes the British continue the
successful push begun Monday. South
cast of Valenciennes the British are
within ten miles of Maubeuge and
further south rapidly are pushing their
way thru the Normal forest, where
ey are four miles from the railroad
junction of Aulnoye. South of the
Normal forest the British and French
are pressing eastward over virtually
level ground toward Avesnes.
Hammer at Enemy.
From the Disc to the Aisne at Chat
eau 1OrClen, IHe TTentu ildihtnAii
close contact with the enemy who Is
moving rearward as a result of the
French successes of the last few days
South of Guise the French first army
Is advancing northeastward between
the Peron and the Serre.
Further east the French have PEN
etrated the formidable Hunding line,
making an advance of one mile on a
front of five miles on the western wing
of the forward movement. Continua-
ton of the advance here soon will
compel the Germans TO give up the
line of the Aisne east and west of
Iethel to which they have clung so
stubbornly.
Yanlls Cross at Brieulles.
American troops on front of fif-
teen miles along the Meuse from
Brieulles northward to Pouilly are
successfully forcing their way across
the river At Brieulles the river has
been crossed in bitter fighting and the
Americans also have reached the east
bank at Clery-Le-Petit
Where the Meuse curves in the re-
gion of Pouilly the Americans have
crossed the river and taken the village
of Pouilly. after driving the enemy
from the Jaulnay wood.
The Americans on the west bank of
the Meuse north of Stenay are within
four miles of the German main COM
a point northwest of Chauvoy. The
successful crossing of the Meuse out
Tanks the German positions east OF
the Meuse toward the Moselle, which
protects the important Briey iron
fields and railroad and supply lines in
the region of Montmedy and Con-
flans. From the Meuse west to the
Aisne the American and French main
tain their pressure against the Ger
mans defending the MeZieresS Sedar
railway line, ten miles to the north.
\ Decisive Battle.
Paris. Nov. 5.-A battle which /.
believed here to be decisive is nov
going on 1t is being waged in two
sections. In the north the blow de
livel d by the British a:mies of Gen
erals Horne, Byng and Rawlinson anC
by the French under General Debeney
is a threat leveled at one of the flank!
of the vast pocket formed by the Ger
man lines from Holland to Metz
The object of this offensive is t.
drive dangerous wedges either nortl
of the Sambre in the direction O
Mons or south of the river in tn,
direction of Avesnes and Maubeuge
The result may be a compromise re
treat of the German armies in Bel
GUM or those still between the Ois
and the Aisne.
Cross the Sambrc.
Excellent results have been realize,
so far. The Sambre river and cana
have been crossed. This was the las
line of resistance west of the frontie
which may soon be reached in tina
region. According to latest informa
tion. the allied advance is continuing
notwithstanding desperate resistanc
by the enemy.
The second section of the attack
being conducted by Generals Gourau
and Liggett on the Meuse. This is tn
great strategic offensive which tn
Germans have always feared an
which they sought to make impossibl
by storming Verdun in 1916.
Cut the Line.
The aim of the Franco-America
offensive is to pinch cut the Who'll
pocket. American troops are a
Beaumont. That is less than eigh
miles from La Mouilly station, north
west of Montmedy. on the great shut
tie railroad running between Thior
Vile. Sedan and Meziers. Even BET
ter, the opening of a fresh attack b
the Americans on the east bank of 'th
Meuse mas bring them into til
CONTINUED on Page Two.)