Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-10-25

| Forces of the French advancing
nOrtheastWard between the
I Disc and the PerOn. a tributary
Oi the Serre, have penetrated
! the village Of Villers-Le-Sec
and surrounded the village 0i
La Ferte, northeast Of Yillers.
/ The French also have made
some advance further east
along the Serre and the SOuchc.
The British have captured
Maing, southwest OF Valen-
ciennes, Field Marshal Haig an-
nOunceS.
With the American Army I'm
France, Thursday, Oct. "a. - (Dc-
/ Iayed) -(By the Associated PressJ
American 16-inch guns manned
/ ty American blue jackets cooperat-
/ ing with the French began firing
upon German railroad centers back
Of the Serre-O Disc front on Wednes-
day. The Americans directed their
shells against railroad supply sta
tions and functions in the region OF
Vervins and also in the vicinity OF
Rozoy.,
Fighting Is Fierce.
With the Allied Armies in France
and Belgium. Oct. %, 4:30 a. m.--
/ iBy the Associated Press Fight
ing which compares in ierceness 20
almost any in the war continued
through the night on the field of the
great battle north and south OF VI a
Ienciennes. Belated reports indl-
cate that the British have entered
the German defenses, gaining con
siderable ground and pressing east
ward slowly but surely. The BRIT
ish also have captured Vendegrles-
Sur -Ecaillon. on the front below
? Nalenciennee--
A German counter attack was re-
pulsed and fighting was resumed
early this morning.
$500 Captured.
Since Wednesday morning the
/. / British third army has taken 5000
! prisoners and the first and fourth
T armies each has taken / 200, making
5 a total of S,400. More than one
I hundred cannon were captured
= Wednesday and Thursday,
On the high ground south OF Va
lenciennes the battle is raging with
, intense fury, but the British are
[, gradually overcoming the enemy.
At last reports the British held
; this line: From lie Faux to Rooer-
sart to Englefontaine to Ghis5.s-
. inies TO Beaudignies, where they are
within a mile and a half OF Le
. Ouesnoy, to the east of Ruesnes to
Sommaing to Monchaux. The Brit
ish gained MonchauX after bloody
lighting.
tBy the Associated Press).
British troops today are smash
ing their way eastward on the sec
tor between Valenciennes and Le
, Ouesnoy, which is vital TO the Sc
curity of Valenciennes. Further
south, the French, who have been
gradually forcing the enemy from
the pocket between the Disc and
u the Serre, have resumed their pre-
. sure and are reported 10 have en-
/ tered Villers-Le-Sec and surround
, ed La Ferte
! In Belgium and north Of Valcn-
! ciennes the allies maintain their
pressure. but the operations are or
minor importance, as the situation
u on the north depends upon the Brit
> ish success around Nalencicuuea.
d East of lie Cateau the British are
/ before the Normal forest, while
H. south along the Disc and the Serre
the French are pressing hard
= against the Germans
r. Since Wednesday morning the
British armies lighting forward
= from a few miles north OF ValeE
= ciennes 20 east Of lie Cateau have
II Inn
II Flanking Move On.
H Field Marshal Haig, his troog
ii having reached the western edge OF
II the Normal forest, apparently is
II striving 20 Outdank that natural
III barrier on the north by adyanc'a
III through lie QuesnOy toward Mons
III and Maubeuge The Germans are
II fighting stiffly 10 prevent this, re-
III sultinE i'm desperate combats In -
II villages and other vantage points
II south Of Valenciennes. The Brit
II ish, however. are pushing steadily
II ahead and have taken MaiHg and
Il Vendegnies Fighting was resum
II on this sector Friday morning ~
II the British advancing from tt.
II hills east of the Ecmllon river to-
II ward the railroad and high road ac-
H tween Valenciennes and lie Qucs-
II noy
Il Take Towns; Push On.
II Immediately north OF Nalea-
II cicunes the British have taken al-
II ditional villages and continue o.
Il approach the important crossing c0
Il the Scheldt al Coude. This tOar
is six and oue-hal. miles northeast
II OF Naleucieunes.
H French troops east OF the Sam
Ii bre-Olse canal I'm the region %
II Longchamps have repulsed tN,
II German attempts 20 drive then
III back across the canal Along tEt
Il Serre and Souche rivers the Frenel
Il Friday resumed their pressure, art
Il er having thrown back enemy e.