The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-21
The Troops Are Within a Few
Miles of Client Now.
Belgians Are Along the Deyse-
EecIOO Canal Line.
GERMAN FRONT WITHDRAWS
British and French Sweep
Ahead From TOurnai.
Germans Flood Country, but
Fail To Hold Allies. >

L hlllCSs
Paris, Oct 21.-Audenarde has
been encircled and it's fall is expected
momentarily. German resistance 10
reported to be weakening on this Sec,
tor of the front. n
French Gain.
London, Oct 21-The Frenchi
troops on the allied center in Belgium
have gained a bridgehead across tho
Lys canal at Nevele, seven miles west.
of Ghent.
The French also have gained a,
bridgehead over the Lys river at
Gramme. The Germans are attempt
ing to hold a line from Eede to the
River Lys at Petegem, north of Gram
meme.
There is no confirmation of a re-
port from Dutch sources that the ALI
lied troops have captured Eecloo and
several thousand prisoners. This Is
believed to be extremely improbable.
as is also the report that the fate OF
Client has been sealed.
South of the Scheldt the British
have Strengthened the line between
Denain and LIE Cateau and are within
| three or four miles of the Valen-
ciennes railway line. The allies also
have Strengthened out their line be-
tween the -Oise and the Serre and the
French are engaged in heavy fighting
in the strongly fortified Hunding line.
Cross ScheIdt.
Paris, Oct. 21.-Allied troops have
crossed the Scheldt river at several
points in the region of Audenarde, fif-
teen miles southwest of Ghent.
| With the American army northwest
of Verdun, Oct. 21.-It is the purpose
of the German command to dispute
every foot of the American advance on
| the line west of the Meuse and to in
flfot the heaviest possible losses, Ger
| man prisoners declared. They added
that the Americans in taking over this
sector would find more formidable op-
position than any place else on the
front and would suffer accordingly. A
strong German defense was necessary
| on this sector they said because 1t was
necessary to stand firm while the Ger
man lines northward to the North sea
were being readjusted.
Fierce fighting took place today in
the Bois de Rappes, on the western
end of the American line. In the fece
of terrific machine gun fire the AIncri
cans were formed to fall back. Later
| they counter attacked and regained
the part of the wood that had been
| lost
When the German government on
| October IL told President Wilson that
| it was ready to comply with the prop
osition of the president concerning
|
completed arrangements for a with
| drawal from France. This assertion is
| made by German prisoners captured
| by the Americans Sunday in the region
| of Grand Pre-.
The American artillery continues to
pound heavily German positions just
| to the north of the wood. Immediate
D., ly west of the Meuse the Americans
| consolidated their positions over night.
Notwithstanding the activity of Ger
man guns of various calibers. In the
| line-straightening process an Ameri-
/ can battalion captured a little thicket
| to the east of the Bois de Rappes and
| took several prisoners, including two
| officers. The prisoners said they be-
lieved peace would come soon.
| There was considerable enemy troop
movement today on both sides of the
Meuse. Altho the day was cloudy
there also was much aerial activity.
| British ut Courtrai.
! British Headquarters in Belgium.
| Oct. 21.-In the region of Courtrai.
i the Second British army today was
| advancing on a line of az miles
along the Scheldt river. They had
gained this line by a great bound fer
| ward Sunday.
| During the battle which resulted in
this gain more than 700 prisoners
were captured and heavy casualties
| were inflicted on the enemy.
Artillery Fighting.
Rome. Oct. 21.-Active artillery
fighting on the Asiago plateu in the
| Grappa region and along the Piava
river is reported today by the war
| office. Prisoners were taken by the
French at SisemoI. In the Frenzela
valley the Italians dispersed an en-
emy attack.
| (By the Associated PressJ
| In spite of the Germans endeayor
| to check their advance, .the Belgians
?: the British and the French continue
their sweeping march from Tournai to
the Dutch frontier. Official reports
show that they have reached points
within ten miles of Ghent. The
Belgians are along the Deyse- -Eecloo
canal which runs northward from the
Lys river. Farther south they have
crossed the river at various points
Along the Lys the British have moved
| swiftly toward the Scheldt river and
are at Pecq. on the(west bank Of the
| river -
In this sector, of the battle line. the
allies are moving toward the south
| east, and II seems they will be able to
reach Ghent with their main forces in
| very short time. The Germans have
flooded some of the country, but this
has failed to interfere with the Prog
ress of the armies commanded by King
| Albert British and American troops
ten mile front east of lie Cateau.
/ Threaten Railroad.
During the past day they have ad.
vanced mile on this line and appear =
| to have reached a point from which
they seriously threaten the railroad
running thru Ayesnes and Berlaimont.
This road is the principal avenue of