Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-24
ALLIED ARMIES SLOWLY DRIVING HUNS
TOWARD GERMAN B0RDER--ENEMY LINE
OFFERING STIFF FIGHT AT CRUCIAL POINTS
[By the Associated Press

President Wilson has answered
Germany's latest note regarding
peace. In brief, he informs Germany
that the only armistice he would
feel justified in submitting for con-
sderation to the allied governments
would be one which would leave the
United States and allied powers in a
position to enforce any arrangements
that may be entered into and to make
a renewal of hostilitieS on the part
of Germany impossible.
To this end the president has
transmitted his correspondence with
the present German authorities to
the allied powers.
Not peace negotiations but Surren-
der will be the demand if the United
States has to deal with the military
masters and the monarchial author
tiles of Germany. The allied armies
in France and Belgium are still
driving the Germans toward their
border but the process is now COM
paratively slow.
On the sectors that are requisite
to the stability of the entire German
line where a crash through probably
would mean the immediate collapse
of the whole defensive system
the most stubborn resistance is be-
ing offered by the enemy and such
gains as are being made by the AL
lies are virtually foot by foot in the
face of the hornets of the battle line
the machine guns.
Particularly vicious fighting is in pro-
gress west of the Mouse river where
the Americans in their endeavorS to
overcome the natural obstacles barring
the way northward to Sedan are faced
by picked troops with orders to hold
them back at all costs, in the region
from LIE Cateau to the north Of Valen-
ciennes, where the British and some
Americans gradually are tearing their
way through The enemy's front. and be-
tween Journal and Audenarde. where
the British also are hard after the en-
envy.
notwithstanding the frantic endeavors
Of the enemy to maintain their posi-
tons on all three of these sectors. ma
terial progress has been made. Like
wise northeast of Laon the French on
an eight-mile front have delivered a
thrust that carried them forward from
two to three miles. Into the hands Of
the British have fallen 1000 more Ger
man prisoners. whiles the Americans
west of the Meuse also have gathered
in numbers Of tn enemy and a consid-
erable quantity of his machine guns.
Veritable nests of ma chine guns are
being encountered by the Americans as
they attempt to press forward along
the front from the Meuse to the town
of Grand Pre-. sit. ated north of the Ar
gonn> forest but in spite of thse obsta-
Giles they have taken further ground and
at last accounts were steadily keeping
up their pressure against the enemy
Extremely heavy counter attacks have
been successfully sustained north Of
Grand Pre-, ard on this sector particu-
larly strong concentrations Of enemy
artillery fire have gone almost for
naught On the western bank of the
Meuse the town of Breuilles has been
taken. the enemy having burned and
evacuated it and retreated in the gen.
eral direction of Dun.
Exactly what has been accomplished
by the French in drive northeast OF
Laon, except that they have gained
over a wide front, has not yet become
apparent. but it brings appreciably near
err Montcornet, the last important rail-
road junction in this region.
North and south of Valenciennes Field
Marshal IIaig has continued his attacks
against the Germans and everywhere
made good progress. Between LIE Ca
teau and Solesmes a sharp wedge has
been driven into the German line threat
ening the town of Mauberge on the east
and outfianking Ealenciennes on the
south. North of Valenciennes the town
of Bruay has been captured, virtually
making Valenciennes untenable for the
enemy. To the north of this region the
British have reached the west bank Of
the Scheldt canal.
Already the British are in the western
outskirts Of Valenciennes. where hard
fighting is in progress, the Germans
having posted machine guns innumer-
able on the eastern bank of the canal
which runs to the cepteI of the city.
In northern Belgium the Germans are
still retiring. Unofficial reports are to
the effect that Client is being evacuated.