The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-05
YANK Near SEDAN.
First Army Ten Miles South of
Famous City. p
At Beaumont Can Look over
Into Germany.
AN lnuENnE NJ 10 ELL Ee
An ADVANCE OF 1S MILES
Germans Pile Huge Masses of
Reserves in Line.
Try To Stop. the Victorious
Yank Armies.

With the American Army on the
Sedan Front, Nov. 5.-Bitter fighting
is taking place today along the Mouse
river. American patrols again have
succeeded in crossing the river at
Bri .ulies on a pontoca bridge con-
structed under fire.
With the American Armies in
France, Nov. driving ahead in the
face of increasing enemy resistance,
the First army has closed the famous
Stenay gap and is now within ten
miles of the southern foothills of the
Ardennes.
At Beaumont, the Americans can
look across from the heights south of
tat village into German territory,
eleven miles distant.
Since Satu day the First army has
advanced about eighteen miles on
front of about twenty. In the capture
of La Neuville, the American lines
were carried to very outskirts of the
village of Stenay, just across the
Mouse.
Sending in Reserves.
The Germans are now piling great
masses of reserves into this narrow
front to retard our progress toward
Sedan. The important railway, which
runs from Montmedy thru Sedan to
Mezieres and Charleville, striking thru
the southern edge OF the Ardennes,
already is under heavy bombardment
from our artillery.
The enemy also had brought up a
big additional concentration of air
forces, resulting in constant battles
for aerial supremacy.
In the last four days American avia.
tors have brought down more than 1 so
enemy planes.
Advance Three Miles.
London, Nov. 5.-The Americans
continuing their progress between the
Aisne and the Mouse, advanced about
three miles on a front of nearly twen-
ty miles, it was indicated in the Amer
lean communique this morning.
The important Stenay gap, the prin-
cipal point of egress for the Germans
in a retreat south of the Ardennes. was
definitely closed by the capture of La
Neuville, Just across the Meuse from
the village of Stenay.
Beaumont heights were occupied
and the American lines were carried
to Grandes-Armoises ten miles di-
rectly south of Sedan.
We captured stores, munitions and
engineer m':terial." the communique
said.
I'VE raided Montmedy from the air
with excellent results Over five tons
OF bombs were dropped. ..--
Thirty hostile airplanes were de-
stroyed or driven down out of con-
troll. Three balloons were shot down
Seven of our planeSare missing"
Traps for Tanks.
With the American Army Northwes
of Nerdun, Nov. 4. IL p. m.--Germar
forces are strengthening the Meust
north of the American front. There
are indications that this work was re-
I sumed during the last few days and
that soldiers are laboring on it da,
and night. Reports agree that thi:
STRENGTHENING operation extends alont
the line running from Mezieres tt
MoEtmedy, Longuyon and Dieden
hofen.
In various places in front of thi!
line, where the Germans have, expected
to mike a last stand in France. tanl
traps are already completed. Thu
traps are 100 yards long, 10 yard
wide and 10 yards deep. They arr
covered with boards hidden by eartf
and sod ~
With the American Army on thu
Sedan Front. Nov. 5.-The Germans
have blown up the bridge across thu
Mouse between Laneuville on the ives
bank and the important town o
Stenay on the east bank.
Buiid Second Bridge.
With the American Army on tn
Sedan, Nov. 5.-After the pontool
bridge at Brieulles had been con
structe'l. The Americans threw a sec
ond bridge across the Mouse at Clery
Le-petit and began developing a new
line on the heavily wooded and YER
difficult ground east of the river be
tween Clery and Brieulles, 4 two an,
oneohalf mile front.
The town of Pouilly, in the bend o
the Mouse, northeast of Stenay, wa
captured by the Americans operating
west of the Mouse. The west bank O
the river now is held in its entirety a
far north as Pouilly.
The troops which crossed to tn
east bank of the Meuse. found thei
advance opposed by bitter machin
gun and artillery fire. This was over
come. however. and the American
are making steady progress.
The village of Beaumont. directl
west of Pouilly. has been taken by tn
forces which advanced from tn
heights which they held below tn
town. The important town of Stena,
across the Mouse to the southeast,
now half surrounded.