Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-10-14
BRITISH TROOPS
NOW ARE WITHIN .
MILE OF D0UA|
ngIo.American Forces Cap.
ture Near Bohain Largest
Ammunition Dump
Ever Taken.
By Associated Press.

~ itA iHS HHSIO-IhlllcllSdH TOTEGS
on Valenciennes Front, Oct 1.-THE
British again attacked southwest
of Douai yesterday, stormed and
took Brebieres and passed through
to the eastward. They are now
within mile of Douai itself. A
stiff rear guard resistance by enemy
machine gunners is being overcome.
Americans and British troops cap.
cured in the Bohain region what was
probably the largest enemy ammu-
milton dhmp ever taken. The shells.
piled high, covered large area.
This capture will greatly reduce the
q~antity of ammunition available to
the Germans on this section of the
front.
All the Bohain roads were found
to be mined when the Anglo-Ameri-
can forces entered the town. When
the German sentries discovered that
the mines had failed to catch any,
thing they shot at big one in the
center Of the place. They made a
direct hit and the explosion blew
hole in the ground big enough to
hold large chateau.
Yankees Take 5000 Prisoners.
Two additional batteries have
been captured by the Americans OPP
Grating on this front south of St.
Souplet. The German gunners were
bayonetted.
The British barrage late yesterday
completely smashed the hostile ar
t,llery, which fired heavily on the
Americans at St, Souplet.
Since the beginning of the pres
cnt operations the Americans have
captured 46 officers and 1900 men,
and since joining the British fight
ing forces they have secured 5000
prisoners and more than so cam
non.
Troops from five divisions from
other sections of the front have now
oppeared in the line opposite the
3ritish and Americans. The bulk OF
hem undoubtedly is being used to
Garrison the position known as the
Valenciennes line. All, however, are
believed to have been engaged in the
recent fighting and are in low
strength and poor morale. =,
1t has been established that %
enemy divisions (l5,50O men) have
been engaged on the Cambrai-St.
Quentin front along since Septem-
Der %.
Stand on Valenciennes Line.
The Germans had to do quick
work in the preparation of the VAL
enciennes line, which, it appears,
they intend trying to hold. 1t seems,
in a general way, to run from Valen-
ciennes to Vadegies, east OF the
river Escaillon, on the high ground
south of Bermerain, along the high
ground between Escahmain And
Solesmes, along the high ground
east of the river Selle, east of lie
Cateau to Morlain, thense east of
Andigny, west Of Regnlcourt,
through the Piquerval wood and
thence possibly southeast TO VAN
dencourt on the Disc.
II is obvious that this is only a
1emporary line, for explosions are
a progress east OF it. 1t is known
Vat the military offices that were
.ormerly inNeCteau were moved to
'taubeuge and Charleroi and guns
have been seen moving back far to
the eastward. In Douai there have
been several fires, while in Denain
aud in the southern and northern
outskirts of Lille explosions and
fires have been observed. Villages
northeast OF Douai are burning, in
Guiding Maitaing, Marquette, Merch-
icourt and Marcq.
Notwithstanding the Germans
having adopted a defensive line, the
attacks by the British and Ameri-
cans are continuing.
Greeted Joyously BY Villagers.
Tie villagers in ,Vaux-Andigny
knew that the Americans were in
the war but did not know they were
fighting. All of them rushed to meet
the troops when the Americans en-
tered, the people thinking the men
were British.
The Americans were kissed again
and again, the more emotional of the
villagers are also kissing the sol.
diers' rifles and bayonets which had
delivered them from their oApres-
sors. The villagers offered the SOL
diers tea. and when the latter pro-
duced the sugar for II the people
all cried:
"Why, you must be Americana
There was another outburst Of en-
thusiasn.