The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-10-21
LYS RIVER Line
SMASHED; FOES
LOSE BIC FRONT
Continued From Page One

photographs and dropped seven tons
of bombs on railroad stations and
troop transports.
Tho Berlin official statement ad.
mittcd loss OF BrueeH. Thieit and
courtrni II admitted the allies
had reached tho Belgian Dutch
frontier and that tho Germans had
been pressed back across the LyH.
Allied progress south OF courtrai,
east OF Douat. In the region Of Laon.
on the north bank OF the AiHne and
In the region OF VOUCHERS was an.
nounccd boy Berlin.
British troops are approaching ST
Armand. eight miles northwest Of
Valenciennea. Field Marshal liaig re.
ported today
Contact with the enemy In being
maintained. The British also are
nearing the line OF the scheldt north
OF Journal.
In their drive against Naiencl'
cnnon from the southwest. English.
Scottish and welsh troops. fighting
In rainntorm. shattered desperate
resistance hy the Germans in vii
lagos along the railway line. Tanks
went forward with the infantry and
crossed the flooded selic river.
Working under heavy fire. the
British threw bridges across the
flooded sells and the artillery crossed
the river close behind the infantry.
strong Line Smashed
The statement said:
THE number OF prisoners In the
operation yesterday north Of IL
catcau exceeds 5000 The cnemy's
positions on the seile river were Of
great natural strength. and were
held with resolution. our attack
was launched by English. Scottish
and Welsh troops at a. m. under
tho most unfavofable weather con-
diuona. a continuous rain rendering
the advanc. most difficult.
Fighting was heavy all day long,
the enemy offering strong resist
ancc In tho villages along the rail
way line. In overcoming this re-
aiAiance great assistance was rem
dcrrd at certain points BY the tanks.
which despite the flooded condition
Of tho river. succeeded In passing
TO lts east bank at an early hour.
As soon aa the line Of the river
had been secured. number OF
hridEcA were constructed under
heavy nre from hostile artillery
and machine guns These bridges
enabled our guns 20 push along
close hehind the advancing infantry
and they afforded effective assist
ancc at short range.
~DurinE tho evening. nj certain
points where parties OF tho enemy
siill we're resisting. local operations
cleared them out A counter attack
against Romoriea was beaten off
with heavy losscH
North OF Dcnain our advanced
elements continue 10 press forward.
maintaining contact with tho en-
cmy.
we arc approaching the village
~ 81 Armand and the line OF the
scheidc ARchcli. north Of Journal ="
The Germans have been hurried
hack over tho Lya river at three
places. and tho allies are driving
close TO Client and Journal. Field
Marshal Halg reported today In
special statement on the Flanders OF.
tcnHivc.
His report made Il ovidcn, that tho
attempt Of tho Germans to make
stand on tho Lys river had been over.
whclmed. and that the allies already
ar" IN touch with the next defense
line. along the Escaut river
Halls declared the enemy had been
forced 90 withdraw on his whole
front In Belgium. The allies have
reached Acltrc. II milca west Of
Client the greatest road center in
Western Belgium. and have occupied
several villages on "A line running
northward to the Dutch frontier.
Nearing Client
The French have established
hridgcheads on the eastern side OF
Lyp. between Grammcnc and
Petcghem. II miles southwest Of
Client and nj a point near Oyghem.
n few miles farther south.
Beyond Lille the British have driv.
en- tho Germans across tho border
from France into Belgium and have
reached the outskirts Of Poca. ak
miles north Of Journal
Tho statement said.
THE Germans vainly cndcavored
to arrest our progress toward the
Lys. toward Dcnyze. Eecloo and the
Dutch frontier
'.I,ln Latttan n ,,.cr. f.r.nA q. ...l.i.