The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-10-24
ALLIES CONTINUE
FLANDERS DRIVE
Wedge Thrust in the Hun Lines
Promises Soon to Free
Submarine Bases.
MORE GAINS IN CHAMPAGNE
French and Americans Struggle For
ward on Each Side of Meuse
Allies Near RetheI.


Washington, Oct. 16.-The Entente
forces in Belgium and France continue
successfully to drive the enemy be-
fore them.
In Belgian Flanders, the advance is
somewhat rapid, but on all the Sec
tors in France the Germans are fight
ing with desperation to hold back
their foes.
The great wedge that is being
driven by the Belgian, British and
French troopssin Flanders now threat
ems seriously the tenure by the enemy
Of many positions in north Belgium
from the Lys river to the sea, includ-
ing his submarine and other bases
along the coast, while to the south
the Lille salient gradually is being en-
meshed and doubtless will soon re-
ceive attention from the ptncers,
which are being oiled for the task of
retaining this important tract Of
territory as far as Valenciennes for
France.
Yanks Gain Ground.
Meanwhile, the French and Ameri-
can forces are struggling valiently for
ward in their drive northWard from
the Champagne region into the coun-
try over which the Germans must eff
feet a retirement to their own border
in the event of a final debacle. AS
has been the case always since the
offensive began, the Germans are Wig
orousIy defending their positions, US
ing innumerable machine gun detach-
ments in endeavors to hold their
ground. Particularly vicious are the
counter thrusts that the Americans
are being compelled to sustain east
and west of the Mouse, where the en-
tire enemy front is threatened with
immdiate collapse should General Lig-
gets men crash through the line for
, material gains.
Allies Near Bethel.
To the west the French are slowly
closing in upon Rethel on their way
to Mezieres, being only two miles dis
tant from the town. West of Grand
pre- they have effected further cross
ing of the Aisne. About 800 Germans
were made prisoners in this fighting.
In Flanders the British have taken
the important railway center of
| Menin Thourout has fallen and the
Thourout-C ourtrai railroad has almost
been won. Numerous towns have been
captured by the Allied forces and
large numbers OF prisoners have been
| taken. Many guns also have fallen
into the hands of the Allies. The
| capture of Thourout completely out
flanks the German submarine base at
| Ostend and brings the Allied troops
within ten miles of Bruges, whence
| the railroad line runs northward to
| Zeebrugge, Germany's U-boat base in
! the North sea.
Allies Strike in Flanders.
Washington, Oct. 15.-Having clear
| ed out the old Laon salient and made
advances northwest in Champagne
which are menacing the retirement of
| the Germans eastward toward the
VaIenciennes-Mezi line, Gen
eral Foch has ordered drive in the
Lys river region of Flanders toward
Client which threatens to break en-
tirely the grip of the Germans in Bel
GUM all the way from the frontier to
the coast and likewise to eliminate
the big bulge in the line with Lille
as it's apex.
The French troops alone are said
to have taken three thousand prison
ers, while the Belgians have captured
several complete batteries and guns
and numrous prisoners. Just how
wide the new front of attack is has
not become apparent. 1t is stated
that the new advance has brought the
Allied troops within range of the
enemy coast defenses, but that the
guns from them have offered no op-
| position.
British Meet Stiff Resistance.
| Meantime to the south the Germans
are offering stiff opposition to the
| British southwest of Valenciennes and
| on the Solesmes sector in an endea-
vor to prevent the closing in of the
Lille sack and the capture Of this i'm
/ portant town and also Valenciennes,
which are in precarious positions if
pincer movement gets well under way.
Americans in Hard Fighting
Probably the greatest resistance OF
all is faced by the Americans on both
sides of the Mouse river Vicious
counter attacks are being delivered at
the men from the United States, the
fierceness of the assaults indicating
that fresh forces have been brought
into the fray to halt their do or die
EiDy. 0+-z1+o 4yfe4ip,e nj.