The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1918-11-07
FRENCH AND BRITISH ON ONE
FLANK. FRENCH AND AMER
ICANS ON OTHER.
STRATEGIC OFFENSIVE
GERMANS HAVE FEARED
Americans Cross Meuse With Formi-
dable Force and Huns Flee in
Disorder Vienna Urges
Resistance.

Paris, Nov. 5.-@A battle which is
believed here to be decisive is now
going on. 1t is being waged in two
sections, In the north, the blow de-
livered by the British armies of Cen
eral Horne, Byng and Rawlinson
and by the French, under General
Debeney is a threat leveled at one of
the flanks of the vast pocket formed
by the German lines from Holland to
Metz.
The object Of this offensive is to
drive dangerous wedges either north
Of the Sambre, in the direction of
Mons, or south of the river in the
direction Of Avesnes and Maubeuge.
The result may be widespread re-
treat of the German armies in BEL
gium or those still between the Oise
and the Aisne.
Excellent results have been realiz-
ed so far. The Sambre river and
canal have been crossed. This was
the last line of resistance west Of the
frontier which may soon be reached
in that region.
The Great Strategic Offensive.
The second section Of the attack
Is being conducted by Generals
Gouraud and Ligget on the.
Meuse. This is the great stratagic
offensive which the Germans have al
ways feared and which they sought
to make Impossible by storming Yer
dun in 1916.
The aim Of the Franco American
offensive is to pinch out the whole
pocket American troops are ut
Beaumont. This is less than s miles
from La Mouilly station, northwest
Of Montmedy on the great shuttle
railroad running between 1'hionville,
/ Sedan and mezieres. Even better,
the opening Of fresh attack by the
Americans on the east bank of the
Meuse may bring them into the
Montmedy -Longuyon region That
may mean, not only the cutting Of
the railroad, but making it impossi-
| Bile for the enemy to form upon the
Meuse line, because that front could
no longer be joined up with. that of
Thionville.
British Take LeQuesnoy.
London, Nov. 5.-British troops in
their offensive southeast Of VaIen-
ciennes have captured the fortified
town of LeQuesnoy, after having
completely surrounded it, Field Mar
shall Haig announces today. The
entire garrison Of more than 1000
men was taken with the citadel
Rapid progress has been made by
British divisions cast Of LeQussnoy,
where an advance Of between three
and four miles has been scored. The
villages of Joiimetz, Lerond Queens,
Fraeroy and lie Petit Marais have
been captured.
Further ground has been gained in
Normal forest, The village of Eth,
five miles southeast of VaIenciennes,
has been taken.
Huns Fly In Disorder
Americans at Sedan, Nov. 5.--The
American army has thrown a form
| liable force across the Meuse to its
east bank. The enemy resistance
here has been broken to point Of
generalization The Americans are
pushing northward toward Stenay.
The enemy is in full retreat north
ward. offering little resistance. The
Americans are pressing close on the
heels Of the fleeing Germans, making
retreat as difficult as possible.
American casualties are exceedingly
light. despite the opposition to their
crossing the river
Huns on Run
Paris, Nov. 5.--The French troops
continue to successfully pursue the
Germans in the region of Guise,
northeast of which place they have
taken Burgues sur Sambre. Between
Sissone and Chateau Porcein, the
French are making general advance
from esat Of st. Quentin and LIE Petit
to st Quentin lie Petit TO the out
skirts Of Herry.
Favor Continuing War.
London, Nov. ga demonstration
was held before the Bismarck monu-
ment in Berlin Sunday and reso-
luton was adopted favoring contin-
uing the war and protesting against
the acceptance OF a husailiating
peace, according to a Copenhagen dis
patch, quoting the Berlin Tageblatt.
Palaces for Hospitals
London, Nov. 5.-sixty Of the inn
perial palaces, including the famous
palace Of Sans Souci, have been or
dered by Emperor Wilhelm to be con-