The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-10-24
Enemy Retreats in Night

With the British Armies in France,
October 24-The new drive between
the Scheldt and the Sambre is expect
ed to have wide results, the most i'm
portant of which will be the complete
turning of the Valenciennes line.
On the front from Valenciennes
northward to the frontier of Holland
German resistance is stiffening.
British patrols have managed to
push across the. Scheldt at several
places north of Tournai.
Although the strongest opposition
since the enemy withdrawal began
was looked for south of Valenciennes,
there are no signs so far of any great
defensive preparations beyond slen-
der, new trench and wire systems.
| The Germans are relying largely
upon the strong, natural positions
behind the canal and the Raismes
Forest and the flooded area between
| Douai and Valenciennes.
During the past four days the Ger
mans have withdrawn about three
kilometers-two miles every night,
after holding on all day, the Brit
ish at daybreak occupying the aban-
doned ground and resuming their
! pressure.
An example of the forces preying
on the minds of the German troops
is found in letter which captured
private received from his brother in
Hamburg, written October 12.
The letter reiterates five times that
peace is certain within a few days
and urges the soldier to surrender
or avoid death in some other way.
He surrendered to the Americans near
Bazuel.
Belgium Fight Slows Up
| London, October 24-British troops
with American cooperating, are con-
tinuing their advance on a front of
nearly 20 miles, south of Valenciennes
according to the latest reports receiv-
ed here.
| A penetration of nearly four mile
was made at some points yesterday.
They carried their lines to within
two miles of the western edge of the
Normal Forest, which forms the
principal western defense of the
great fortress city of MauDeuge, and
were within less than four miles of
the railway center of lie Quesnoy.
The fighting in Belgium resulted in
diminished allied progress, owing to
the stiffening German resistance. Cap
ture OF Faereghem, seven miles north
west of Audenarde, was the only i'm
portant success gained.
Yanks Advance Through Fire
London, October pa Times cor
respondent with the American forces
says in a despatch to his newspaper
today that it would be difficult to
exagerate the violence of the oppo-
sition which the First American Army
is meeting between the Meuse ana the
Argonne.
Indeed, slow as the progress is"
he writes, "it is quite remarkable
when all the circumstances are taken
into consideration
Little by little the American divi-
sions are pushing forward, and both
at Grandpre and east of Landres they
can fairly be said to have preached
the Kriemhilde position.
"On the left of the American front
around Grandpre there is constant
heavy artillery firing and vicious ma
chine gun resistance.
More to the right Romagne, Sous,
Montfaucon, Cunel, Clerges and Mon
tillois are kept continually under
heavy bombardment by the enemy
who ia using good deal OF gas along
the roads behind the American lines
"on the east bank OF the Meuse
there Is greater infantry activity and
enemy patrols are continually harass-
Ing and oounter-attaoklng. II IL quite
evident that LudendorT and the Ger
man general stan have ordered thia
part Of the line TO be held al all costs
and that rolnforoements are continu-
ally being thrown In against the
Americans.
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