The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-29
CLOSE IN ON GUISE
French Troops Gain on Enemy
DefenSes There.
They Capture First Line
Trenches in City.
FOLLOW UP THEIR GAINS
Outflank Both Guise and Marie
by Movement.
General Debeney's Men Five
Miles Ahead Now.
fBy the Associated Pressl

On the western front in France
heavy fighting is virtually at a stand
still on the front northward from LIE
Cateau to the Dutch frontier, but
from the Disc to east of the Meuse al
lied pressure continues with gains for
the French between the OiSe and the
Serre.
An intense artillery duel is in prog
ress on the American front northwest
of Verdun, but no infantry fighting has
been reported.
Close in ON Guise.
Paris, Oct. 29,-Genera1 Debeney's
First army continues to close in on
Guise and has captured German first
line trenches and the barracks and
hospital south of the Chateau in the
town of Guise, according to the war
office statement today.
South of Giuise, the French have
passed beyond the Lowry farm. They
also continue to make progress on the
right bank of the Peronne river.
French are marching northeastward
between Guise and Marie and threaten
to outf1ank both points by smashing
all the way thru the Hunding position.
Since the beginning of his advance be-
tween the Disc and the Serre, General
Debeney has moved forward more
than five miles on front of about six
teen miles Along the Serre, the enc
my evidently continues to withdraw
toWdlu MARIE as tne trencn war OF
nee says French patrols are in contact
with the Germans on this sector. East
ward along the Aisne to the Argonne,
french pressure is maintained.
Debcney's Forces Gain.
The French are developing the sue
cesses won by General Debeney's
army below Guise on Saturday and
Sunday when the German lines were
pierced and the enemy was forced to
frnr hn hov III; !,
he has been stubbornly holding. Re-
ports indicate further progress by Gen
eral Debeney in this sector and at the
same time it seems that the French
forces along the line of the Aisne have
resumed their attacks which are in
their lines of communication running
in the direction of Hirson.
American units have Joined with
the French in this sector and have ad-
vanced upwards of a mile in their par
ticular sector.
Haig's Statement.
London, Oct. 29.-French troops
advancing along the right bank of the
Lys, have, reached the railway be-
front of eight miles), Field Marshal
Haig reported in his special Belgian
communique today.
Turn the Line.
1t would seem that British south
of Valenciennes have reached a point
where the line of the Scheldt to the
northward may be turned. If Field
Marshal Eaig succeeds in forcing the
enemy to evacuate Va1enciennes the
advance of the British, French and
Belgians in the direction of Ghent may
soon be resumed.
East of the Meuse, American troops
have frightened their hold on the po-
sitions won by them last week, while
west of the river there has been con-
slant pressure brought to bear on the
enemy's positions. Minor tactical sue
cesses are reported from this sector.
German guns began to lombard the
American lines in the Verdun region
early Tuesday. The American artillery
responded Apparently the German.
, hoped to check any further American
efforts to continue the advance by de-
luging the American lines with higF
explosives at the hour when attacks
| usually are launched.
Field Marshal Haig reports only ar
| tillery and patrol activity on the from
| of his armies. In Belgium operation.
are only of a local character.