Arizona republican., 1918-11-02
VA[ENC|ENNES BOTTLED UP BY
 ALLIED ARMIES

WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM, Nov. 1-I C p. m. By the Associated Press).-| Valenciennes today was bottled up as the result of a lightning blow by the British on both sides of the city. Only immediate retirement from the place, or something in the nature of miracle can save the German troops, who at noon had only a narrow gateway open to them for retreat toward the east.
 Meantime the French and British and Americans from the Pacific coast and Ohio along the DeynZe-Avelghem front in Belgium continued successfully the advance begun yesterday morning. The heavy enemy resistance encountered on this sector yesterday died out during the night.
 The main attack at Valenciennes was south of the city, just above Fanars. The Canadians, who engineered the drive were supported by one of the heaviest artillery bombardments of the war. The gunfire was terrific, and this made the going easy for the overseas infantry which followed.
 The idea of the Canadians in using this great barrage was to crush the re- sistance as quickly as possible, so as to save allied lives. The bombardment had the desired effect, for the opposi ton offered by the enemy was not strong, and the Canadians pushed rap idly through to their objectives which gave them the whole of the railway line running south from Valenciennes.
 The battle waged more or less over open ground. among hamlets and farm houses which still are inhabited by Belgian civilians. Enemy machine gunners were stationed in nearly every house and civilians, who had no pro- lection but their homes, covered in doors while free fighting ragged.
 Americans had a hard day, but did their bit. One unit from California, Oregon, Washington and other points west was in the Waereghem sector in front of Suitaals and the Besschem wood. Another from Ohio was west of l Cruyshautem. Spitaals and the Bess- chem wood furnished one of the tough est bits of fighting along the line. The forest was a network of barbed wire and the whole place was infested with machine gun nests.
 In order to take the woods the Amer leans were forced to depend largely on an outflanking movement although some fought their way through it. When the Americans began their at l tack before dawn the Germans set fire l to all the houses close to the front line fighting up the country. This not only l confused the Yankee troops but it put l them more or less at the mercy of the 1 German machine gunners who were as
 thick as flies.
 | Among the wounded the correspond ent saw today was Major w. o. Gar rfson of Lodi, Calif., who led the bat talion which flanlled the wood on the
 north. He said the burning buildings
 were like moving picture show | The Americans struck an especially heavy shellfire in their sector as well
 as machine gun posts. They fought
 their way forward, however, and finally | cleared the woods, the enemy leaving a great number of dead Germans at thell 1 posts.
 1 The joy of the Belgian people released 1 in this district was touching. Some o1
 them were almost hysterical in theil
 happiness when they saw the allied 1 troops advancing. Notwithstanding the
 great danger to themselves they did al
 that was possible for the allied wound
 ed. American surgeons were in great danger in caring for the wounded or
 account of the shell fire.
 | The greater portion of the wounds
 received by the Americans yesterday
 came from shell fire. One American
 lay wounded on the field for two hours While he was waiting a big German
 shell fell near him. As the seconds
 passed he thought each one was his last
 He was lucky for the shell proved tC be a "dud."
 The correspondent was told unoffi- cially today that the American artillery fire yesterday perhaps was lighter thar it should have been, but this was duo
 to the fear that the barrage would cause
 casualties among civilians.