Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-10-22
[By the Associated Press. ]

10y lilS
Allied troops on the northern end
Of the front in France and Belgium
today are driving into the German
line from west Of Ghent past Tour
mai to valeneiennes.
This line Of the Seheidt and two
Of the important points on it
Tournai and Valenciennes-are al
most within the grasp Of the Brit
ish. The main resistance is stiffcn-
ing between Tournai and VaIenoien-
mes. the southern end iof the eighty
mile line from valeneiennes to the
Dutch frontier.
The British ARMIES. however,
continue to progress. ourcq, with
in less than mile Of Tournai on
the west, has been captured and
the British hold La sentinelIe, one
mile west Of Valeneiennes.
North Of Journal the British are
along the ScheIdt on front Of
five miles and north and south Of
this sector rapidly are gaining the
western bank Of the river.
Between vaierciennes and lie
Cateau the British maintain their
pressure and have reached the lie.
Gallon river at Thiant, southwest
Of VaIcnciennes.
French forces continue their
pressure on the front from the
junction Of the Oise and the Serre
eastward to Vouzieres. On the
extreme left they have advanced
north Of the Serre. East Of the
Aisne at Vouzieres the Germans
have ceased their violent efforts to
disIodse, the French from import
ant hill positions. The French
here are in a position to outflank
the Germans facing the Americans
on the sector west Of the Meuse,
which accounts for the strong ef-
forts TO drive the French back.
General Gouraud's men, however,
have defeated all enemy attacks.
Development Of the plan being
followed by the German high COM
mand in conducting its retreat
from northern France and Bel
eium make it apparent that Metz
is being used as pivot for tho
movement.
While the Germans are pouring
fresh divisions into the line in
front Of tho Americans in an at
tempt to hold the line firmly, the
rest Of the German Iegions are
swinging back toward the Belgian
frontier.
There are several situations
along the front, however. which
render il probable that Marshal
Foch will seriously interfere with
the orderly retirement Of the enc
my forces. II seems certain that
the Hundins line has been out
hanked nj Belgium whero the
Sheldt river has beon crossed, and
east Of lie Cateau whore the Brit
ish and Americans appear to have
fought their way thru all obstrue-
tions.
This line, therefore, may be rem
dered untenabIe for tho Germans.
who may be forced to fall back to
the line Of tho Meuse before at
tempting to stand at bay.
In the meantime attacks by the
allies in Belgium, east Of the
SelIe river and in the Oisne re-
gion, threaten to disorganize tho
German retreat. In Belgium the
French and British are boring into
tho enemy positions so swiftly that
they may completely outf'ank the
German forces to tho southwest.
Belgian troops advancing to-
ward Ghent ara clearing the coun.
try from the Dutch frontier down
az far az EecIoo, on the Lys-
Zsebrusse canal. The French are
within soven miles Of Ghent, while
the British heve reached the
Scheidt near Tou mai.
Fiold Marshal Haiy's mon are
within two milcs of Vaienoiennes
and the 0crmans are expected to
abandon that city very quickly.
Farther south the railroad running
from VoIenciennes into the Ar
dennes region 10 In peril and only
increased resistance will prevent
tho British and Americans from
cutting it,,
In the Champagne region Con,
srai Hsrthelot and General Gou-
raud have not bssn able TO ad-