The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-27
In Hardest Battle of Year
Guillaumat Plunges For
ward Two Miles.
ENEMY'S LOSS is $4,000
British Reach Outskirts Of
Valenciennes and Its
Fall Is Near.
THEY GAIN ON SCHELDT
German Positions Nearly
Broken and Retreat to
Meuse Inevitable.
THEY GAIN ON SCHELDT

LONDON, Oct. 28-The French at
tack in the Oise-Serre region has de-
veloped into great battle, In which
the Germans are offering the most
desperate resistance encountered this
year In the effort to stop the advance,
but so far these efforts have not been
successful.
In fact, the French, who have beet
progressing very slowly for several
weeks in this region because Of the
enormous difficulties of the terrain
and the hard fighting Of the Germans,
increased their momentum and scored
dn advance Of two miles in places oil
front of more than four miles be-
tween Sissonne and Chateau Porcien,
taking some Of the powerful positions
that the Germans have been fortify-
ing since last year and $500 pris-
oners.
Four Days Losses 10000.
4 little further advance by the
French on this line will enable them
to flank the German line from Rethel
along the Aisne to .Vouziers. to the
east of which they already are
menaced seriously by the American
advance. The desperate nature OF
the German resistance here and on
the British sector little further to
the north is indicated by an estimate
in Paris to-day that in the last four
days the German casualties have
reached total Of $4,000, including
5000 prisoners. This week 400
square miles in France and Belgium
have been freed from the Germans.
The lighting in the north is pro-
crossing slowly but satisfactorily.
South of Valenciennes the British
have taken the villages OF Arthes and
Famars and have progressed along
the cast bank Of the Scheldt as far as
the outskirts of Nalenciennes. To-
night they took Avelghem, southeast
of Cambria. To-day they took an ad
ditional 1000 prisoners.
Mount Carmel HnI Taken.
the borders OF Normal Forest, one of
the natural strongholds OF this region,
capturing Mount Carmel Hill and
Englefontaine. Patrols. crossing. the
Nalenciennes-Le Quesnoy Railroad,
have pushed on TO the north. North
Of Valenc!ennes the British advances
continues toward Journal and the
villages Of Odomes and Maulde have
been captured
y despatch from the front late to-
night says heavy enemy counter at
lacks on the British right in the Yicin-
itN of Mount Carmel have forced a
slight withdrawal by the British.
There are really four great battles
IN progress on the front in France,
extending from north of Nalenciennes
to east of Nerdun, a distance of about
lao miles. Until yesterday the struE-
gle on tho British front about Valen-
ciennes was the most severe; Ameri-
can forces are fighting here on the
British right. Still further to the
right Gen. Mangin's forces have been
able TO make only slow progress be-
cause of the difficult country and the
bitter opposition of the Germans
where Fighting IL Heaviest,
ON Mangin's right. in the region
east Of Sissonne, the heaviest fighting
dENe.oped to-day against Gen. Guillau-
mats forces. Near the eastern end
OF the line thc American armies have
encountered the ficrCest fighting they
have known IN the war. In all four
districts however. the advance has
been continued, although at a slower
rate In some places.
The fall OF Nalencicuncs is imminent
II it has not already occurred, the Petit
PdifSitn says. The chief stronghold or
the second German line is gone. ia
centre invested. II is the object of
direct assaults and local 1ankiug move
ments which soon Will smash IT," the
paper continues,
'The operations OF Gen Debeney's
army north of Guise and those of cen
Mansin in the direction of Marie con
stitute an increasing danger The Escaut
line may be considered as lost M
Sambre line will be taken shortly. W.
can fureSec that the enemy Wi. retreat
10 the Mcuse"
The Matb' says mat al Information
tends to show that the Germans cannot
long resist the allied offensive "The
German army has no materials. lacks
munitions, has not sufficient reserves TO
continue a long battle and has no tanks
with which to attack. The spirit In the
enemy rear Is at a low level. while the
spirit at the front IL had. This has been
proved by army orders which have fallen
into our hands. We would be false to
our ideals II we failed TO take advantage
OF the situation"
Berlin asserts, in the official report
to-day, that the advance of the Allies
forcos north OF Tie Seheldt has been