The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-21
BRITISH NEAR
VALENCIENNES:
DENAIN IS WON
Haig's Armies in Reach of
Railway Supplying Foe
in Flanders.
100000 TROOPS MASSED
Germans Battle Desperately,
but Are Thrown Back-Al-
lies Gain Everywhere.
100000 TROOPS MASSED

LONDON. Oct. 20.-Despite exceeding
ly bad weather, which has turned parts
of Flanders into quagmires. the Bel
ward to-day and have every reason to
be satisfied with the progress made.
The German troops cut Off north of
Eecloo, reported yesterday to be about
5000. were in fact $4,000: they chose
the lesser Of two evils and crossed the
frontier into Holland. where they were
disarmed and interned.
The condition of the ground has
slowed the advance of the infantry.
which has not reached Client yet. al
though the cavalry was there yester-
day. The Allies have succeeded in
bringing up some guns within easy
range, however. and completely COM
mand the city. Not much opposition is
expected there. but should any develop
It has been provided for.
Thielt has been fully occupied by the
French, who by a brilliant drive ad-
vanced to within two miles Of Tournai
British Across the Seie.
Further south the British made per-
haps the most important advance OF
the day. capturing Solesmes, crossing
the Selle River and driving eastward
to the high ground, where they domi-
nate the great trunk railway upon
which the Germans depend for most OF
their supplies. In this operation they
/ took more than 1000 prisoners.
1t is stated that since the beginning OF
| the Flanders drive the Allies have ad-
| vanced thirty miles over front oi
thirty-six, freeing the entire coast oi
| Belgium and clearing all of western
Flanders.
The crossing Of the SeNe by the Brit.
ish was made between lie Cateau and
Denain, at a point only fve miles south
| west OF Valenciennes Denain was cap
tured. The battle took place in an ex'
i ceptionally heavy rain and the Germans
| offered the heaviest resistance OF which
/ they were capable in the effort to keeI
| open, IL only for a few days. the rail-
road from Valencennes to Hirson. Me
zieres and Meta.
! Heaviest COuce tratiOn of War.
! On this front OF about forty miles the
| Germans have massed forty divisions
| about 100000 men, which Is said to bt
| tho heaviest concentration of fighting
troops ever known In this or any othel
war. II means more than 1 900 men or
, each 5000 feet OF front over the whole
distance OF forty miles. Despite this, how
ever the British went through the line
and attained their detectives. Wha
/ will happen TO the great mass of Ger
man troops still in this sector when tht
British reach the railway here. or i'm
medately to the south. where the British
Third Army is driving forward also
can only be surmsed now. but the pros
pect is very bad for the Germans.
On the Serre-Aisne front also the Ger
mans are making desperate resistance I,
the advance Of the French. who ar
headed for the same railroad to the cas-
OF tine British objective. Two stronI
counter attacks were REFUSED to-day b.
the French near Verneull and north q
st. Germaincourt. East Of verneull tn
French advanced. crossing Chautrou,
Brook and winning footing on III
heights to the east.
Still further east in the Champagne
Argonne region. the French advanced Ii
the region of Vouzicros to Pcrron an,
reached the district of Landeves an,
Falaise.
Merely Protecting Retreat.
The Reuter- correspondent at Britis
Headquarters in France says that fror
lie Cateau to the sea the German
almost everywhere are in retiremen
and are standing to fight only at sue
| Continued on Second Page.