Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-23
BRITISH CLUTCH
Continued from page

North Of Valenciennes the city has been
outfanked by the capture Of Bruay.
II il not probable that Germans will
he able to hold out in NaleBcicnnee much
Longer and once the Scheldt ~ crossed
here the pritsh will be in position to
threaten seriously both Mons and Mau-
beuge.
Between lie Cateau and Solesmes
the British are on the high ground cast
of the Selle river and il is from this fav
orable position todays' attack was be
gun The German resistance here has
been bitter MS the line ~ vital To the
security of the German dcfcnses over
n wide front to the south and south
east
In southwestern Belgium the British
continue to close in on Tournai North
of the town they have forced crossing
OF the Scheldt while on the south they
have reached the western bank Of the river
ON n four mile front from BruyeIes 10
Hleharics
South of lie Cateau, the enemy is re-
sisting stubbornly French Attempts tn
cfosa the Scrre ri or and take m the rear
the German positions east Of the Disc.
South OF the railroad junction Of Mont
cornct the French have made progress
between Nizy-le-C Comte and lie Thour.
MAKE nEtcHsTAG HEaroNsrBtE FoR WAR.
Prince Maximllan, the German Chan
cellor, has promised the German Reich
stag that il will he made responsible for
war and peace. lie added the prOvlso
however, that such step will not become
effective until after the war and when
League Of nations IL IN practical operation.
Associated Press Summary I p. m.
Defensive warfare will be carried on
hv the German nation If the present
government fails to secure "pcace with
! lustice, said Prince Maxlmillan, the
/ Gernan Imperial Chancellor, speaking
| before the Rcichstag yesterday. The
address lends new light on the latest
note sent from Berlin 10 Washington
| The Berlin people want, first, % know
! what President Wilson fourteen points
| mean 70 tho future of Germany If n
satisfactory answer is not 10 be obtained
a .'call for national defense" will be
issued by the new government, said
Prince Maxrnian
WAR oF Defense NEAR
This war of defense. Is not far
distant, If military events continue 70
develop during the near future rs they
have IN the recent past During the
last ninety seven days of fighting the
allies have advanced along the lnc
from Pont-au- Mousson to NIeuport m
average of about - miles THIS advance
has aggregated ~ miles from Chateau
Thlerry 10 Grandlup. - from Amiens
to the S.Inbre river and s. from Dix
7 nude ~ the Eecloo Ieebruggc canal
The grand average i held to n low
| figure hv the fact that attacks cast Of
| Rheims have not carried the German line
hnrk. over permanent fortifrations and
| against desperate resistance as far rs
| thc enemy WIS forced to Hee farther
west and north In this sector, the pro-
! gross made however, Is - important
rs much greater advances ~ some other
parts of tho front.
HAfc At vaLENCfENsFs GATFs.
Standing behind the Scheldt river, the
! Germans apparently have stabilized their
line md the swift advance Of the Bel
gans. Pritish and French has been
slowed down prtlsh troops however
have succeeded ~ crossing the river
each III Pecq. north of balenciennes
That city too. has been entered by The
Pritish, but Il seems hat part Of the
place still il held Nv The enemy
Farther south tho Prfisb Americans
and French are attempting ID break the
Hunding ine This defensive position
is sufficiently strong to delay the allies
advance materially 1t last reports the
Rritish and Americans were advancing
slowly cast Of the ~eile river and around
what remains Of the Laon salient
The cves Of the allied world are now
directed at the Lorraine and Woevre
sectors IN expectation Of an American
onslaught on Metz. which i the hingt
upon which the whole German line !:
retiring 4 blow Al that fortress might
If successful. throw into confusion ths
whole rctrogradc movement which j:
gong on from the Meuse. 10 the NORTH
! Ssa.