The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-05
LINE is AFLAME

CONTINUED from Page, Onel
ontmedy-Longuyon region. That
may mean not only the cutting of the
railroad but making it impossible for
the enemy to form upon the Mouse
line. because that front could no longer
be Joined up with that of Thionville.
iBy the Associated Press)
With the German retreat eastward
thru Lorraine virtually cut off by the
American advance on the west side of
the Mouse British. French, Belgian
and American troops are striking hard
at the enemy's lines in northern
France and Belgium, Field Marshal
Haig's men launched a terrific attack
south of Valenciennes Monday and
have made progress which seems to
threaten the German hold on Mons
and Maubeuge.
Isolate Client.
Client is now virtually isolated by
the French, Belgians and Americans.
At last accounts the lines of the allies
We're close to the city on the west,
north and northeast and it is said that
allied cavalry has been operating in
the outskirts of the city.
General Pershing's forces are now
within ten miles of Sedan and within
easy range of the railroad south of
that city. In fact, it is said that the
fire of the American guns has cut this
great artery of German communlca-
tions and that it is useless to the
enemy for transporting troops or sup
plies eastward from the Aisne and
Disc fronts where large forces of Ger
mans are still holding their lines
against the French.
Eoch Pincers Method.
1t appears that the familiar "pinc-
ers" method which Marshal Foch be-
gan using on the scissors Rheims sec
tor in July is now in full operation
once more. and each day seems to
bring new peril to the enemy legions
caught within the slowly closing jaws.
Since Saturday noon these jaws have
approached each other an aggregate of
eleven miles. The lower jaw now rests
at Beaumont, just west OF the Meuse.
| The other is close to the eastern edge
of the great Normal forest west of
Maubeuge.
| The advance against Client Is an
other developm ent of the same move
ment and still further imperils the
only avenue of retreat remaining to
| the Teatonic armies. The whole front
from the Dutch frontier to far below
the Disc river was flaming all day
| Monday.
| Then came a number of sectors
which were relatively quiet but far to
the east, the French, with the Ameri-
/ cans to the right, were rapidly NOV
| ing toward Sedan. Resistance along
| this last front has been som ewl1a'
1 more stubborn than it was on Satur-
| day afternoon and Sunday but the
| speed of the allied advance seems &c
indicate that the Germans have not as
| yet reached a line where they will
turn. definitely at bay.
I Czech and Austrian-German are
marching against each other in DO
hernia and battle is imminent. Little
| or nothing OF the true state of affairs
in Germany can be learned probably
because of the strict censorship tina
pervails 1t is known. however. thai
the demand for the abdiGa ton of EN-
peror William is growing and tha
Bolsheviki are active in many, part:
of the country.
LIE Quesnoy Falls.
London, Nov 5.-British troops. In
their offensive southeast of Valen-
ciennes have captured the fortified
town of LIE Quesnoy. after having
completely surrounded it, Field Mar
shall Haig announced today. The en-
tire garrison of more than 1000 mer
j was taken with the citadel.
Further ground has been gained ir
Normal forest. The village of Eth
five miles southeast of Valenciennes
has been taken.
Rapid progress has been made by
the British divisions east of LIE CUES
noy, where an advance of between
three and four miles has been scored
The villages of JoIirnetz. Lerond
Queene. Frasroy and LIE Petit Marai.
have BEEN captured.
Paris. Nov. 5.--French troops con
tinue successfully to pursue the Ger.
mans in the region of Guise, northeas
of which they have taken the villag,
of Bergues-Sur Sanibre. according tt
the war office announcement today.
Retreat to North.
With the American army on the Sc
dan front, Nov. 5.-The American
army has thrown a formidable fore,
across the Mouse to the east bank. Tn,
enemy resistance here has been brok
| en- to the point of decentralization ant
the Americans are pushing northwart
; toward Stenay.
By this afternoon the enemy was II
y full retreat northward. He was offer
J ing little resistance ard the roads to
ward the north were seen to be full
of the fleeing enemy.
The Americans pressed close upol
the heels of the Germans and mad
their retirement difficult as possible
5 The American casualties were YER
light, despite the opposition to TIL
crossing of the river.
Near to Client.
With the Allied Forces in France
: and Belgium, Nov. 5.-The allied line
!, this morning were about one mile an
a half from Client. toward which tn
allied troops continued to press.