The sun., 1918-10-26
Germans Sacrifice Men by
Thousands OH Both Sides
of Valenciennes.
TOLD TO HOLD TO LAST
British Win Several VIII
lagos in the Worst Fight
ing Of Entire War.
FRENCH ALSO PROGRESS
Advance Between Disc and
Serre Despite Opposition of
Most Desperate Character.
FRENCH ALSO PROGRESS

LONDON. Oct. 25. - The British
drive south Of Valenciennes towards
Mons and Mnubeuge and the cor.
responding movement to the north OF
that city has developed into battle
in which the fighting is as fierce as
any seen in the war. The Germans,
according to documents captured.
have orders 10 hold the ground Mt
any cost and they are following those
orders literally, as is shown by the
extraordinary number of German
dead strewn upon the ground after
ench clash.
Despite this terrific resistance.
however, the British are forging
ahead Field Marshal Haig tonight
reports that they have captured Sep.
meries and Querenaing, south of the
Scheldt. and have reached the whole
railroad line between lie Quesnoy
and Maing; the later was captured.
On Wednesday and Thursday, on the
Sambre Scheldt front. the British cap
tured 5000 prisoners and $50 guns.
The villages of Bruille and Burden
have been cleared of Germans. Les
Tulleries. east OF Solesmes. has been
taken.
French Capture 1000.
Equally heavy resistance has been
encountered by the French further to
the south in the Oise-Serre region.
Advancing northeastward the FrencI,
took the village of Villers-le-Sec and
reached the village of La Fcrte. to tha
northeast. They advanced eastward
also along the Scrre and the Souche
and crossed the Serre between Crecy
and MortierS. Beyond this point, to
the east, they took two other villages.
They took 1000 prisoners, with many
cannon.
In this region American naval gun
ners have Joined the French, bringing
with them some 16 inch guns. said to
nc the largest ever used in field opera
tions OF this character. With these
they are blasting a way toward Hirson,
vital point on the railway which
feeds the German armies in this dis
triCt.
British Gaining Mastery.
The Associated Press correspondent
with the allied armies in France and
! Belgium says that on the high ground
south of Falenciennes the battle is rag
ing with intense fury. but the English are
gradually overcoming the enemy
South Of Valenclennes the British
| pushed forward more than two miles.
thereby virtually eliminating the sharp
salient which bulged into their territory
with its point resting near Vendegies
/ The assault. which was pressed Wig
| orously in this sector yesterday, was re-
! newcd this morning at o'clock. At the
| same time Gen. Hogne's army drove for
ward north of NaleuCiennes. The Brit
| ish troops Tonight were on the outskirts
of Lee Quesnoy. having driven forward
across Le Quesnoy- y-Valencennes Rail-
way after heavy lighting.
| JEe enemy appears 10 have retreated
| from a considerable portion OF the
| ground in this zone.
! The British line - now within one
! mile Of LanureCies. Desperate fighting
is reported in the Bo.s l'Eveque and the
neighborhood. whero the Germans were
Killed by the thousands
The Germans apparently were dis
| posed in great depth and had several
| hastily constructed lines OF defence
| which they were determined to retain
until defenccs further eastward had been
! pi epared 80 that German armies to the
north and the south could escape The
enemy has been supported by consider
| able artillery all along the front
! Further Gstns on ScheIdt.
} 70 the north the British by hard fgh.-
! ing esta b'isncd posts between the river
I and the canal. east OF Escautpont North
OF FTesnPs some progress was made to-
ward Conde against heavy and vigorous
machine operations, BIuillc. I.elonE,
Beehot and Burden were captured after
strong opposition had been broken down.
The British army has now obtained
! absolute proof the correspondent adds
that the Germans are violating the
! rules of civilized warfare in respect to
the use OF the Red Cross, as had for
some time been suspected. In yester-
days operations the Fifth army can
tured a German ambulance which, en-
gagged in CARRYING ammunition, bore tho
Geneva Red Cross. This vehicle was
found TO be loaded with explosives. and
the CAPTURE was considered 50 importan,
that sentries were Immediately posted
10 make certain that no one touched e
until photographs Or II could he laksl.
for future reference
III Civilians RombRrdei.