Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-10-17
FRENCH drive
FAR PAST LA0N
Troops Enter One Of. Strongest
and Most Important Ger
man StronghoIds.
MANY CIVILIANS LIBERATED
British Closing in on pouai and coun-
ter-Attacks Of Huns Arc RepuIsed
-Yants Smash Series Of A.
saults Near vcrdun.

Paris. Oct. 15.-French troops have
entered Laon, one of the strongest and
most important German positions on
the western front, the war office an
nounceS.
(Aaon is one of the chief bastions
on the southern end OF the Hindenburg
line and has been held by the Germans
since the autumn Of 1914.)
Sixty-tive hundred civilians were lib
Grated at Laon.
The French have reached the Camp
de Sissone, 10 miles east of Lnon. The
text Of the communique follows:
Troops from the Tenth army have
entered Laon, liberating $500 civilians.
To the east the French reached the
Camp de Sissone.
"All OF the territory between the
Oise and the northern portion of the
Ailette has been freed of Germans.
We have advanced considerable
distance east OF Eaon.''
Gain Near Douaf.
London, Oct. l5s-Fresh progress,
both north and south Of Douai, has
''pocketfng" movement against that
German stronghold, the war office an
nounees
After II heavy bombard1nent the
Germans delivered a series Of counter
attacks OH Sunday afternoon In an
effort to hold up the British advance
east Of Cambrai, but all were repulsed.
The German counter-thrusts GEN.
tered north of Lie Cateau, east Of the
Selle river and in the sectors Of Solos,
mes and Haspres.
sio Retreat On.
Only two lines Of retreat are sttll
open to the huge German force in the
Laon pocket-estimnted at quarter
of lnillion-that to Hirson and to
Mezieres. The Germans cannot stop
now until they have fled to the ap-
proaches OF these place. which means
that their flight must continue for be.
tween 50 and SO miles mort rtheastward
With the southern pivot gone, lille,
the northern hinge, practically Ahangs
in the air" and the retreat must ex-
tend over the whole 10O-mile front be-
tween the north Of Reims and the
North sea.
The British and Americans extended
their bridgeheads at Solesmes (east
| Of the Selle. five and half miles north
west Of LIE Cateau) and progressed ON
the west bank of the Selle river.
Yanks Smash Assaults.
With the American Army Northwest
of Verdun, Oct. 15.-After strong ar
itillery preparation the Germans deliv-
cred counter-attacks at several points
on the American front, but all were
repulsed
The greatest effort was made against
the left wing Of the American sector
where the American artillery fire
moved down the enemy who was ad.
,vancing In open order.
AT no point was the American line
| penetrated.
| Although drizzling ruin fell there
was lively artillery dueling.
The Germans concentrated heavy
shclling against Malamont wood.
Yanks Take 1859.
Seventeen thousand six hundred anG
| fifty-nlne German prisoners have beer
captured by the Americans in the fight
ing between the Meuse and Argonne
forest since September 26.
Artillery Battle Rages.
With the American First Army, Oct
15.-While the men of the American
army are telling ench other the news
that Germany has agreed to what is
regarded as practically unconditional
surrender. an artillery battle is pro
\ cecding along the entire front.
The news of the German reply te
President Wilson's inquiry was sem
first to the corps headquarters, ther
to the divisions, reach.ng the men ii
the field shortly afterward.
German prisoners also were told oI
the latest developments. Thousand.
of them expressed the keenest inter
est, declaring this would hasten thu
day when they would go to America.