The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-15
German Resistance for Purpose
of Delaying Allies.
Rethel Is Threatened by the
French Troops Now.
TANKS TO AID OF AMERICANS
Belgians Are Within Two Miles
of COurtrai.
Rail Center Is Due to Fall Soon
to Allies.

In Flanders, and from the Disc to
the Meuse, the allied troops continue
their vigorous blows for important
gains AS the French press on in the
Laon-Aisne region, the allied often
sive in Belgium and the American
operations west of the Meuse are being
renewed today with success.
Smashing their way thru the net
work of railways in western Flanders,
the Belgian, French and British forces
under King Albert are within two
miles of the important rail center of
Courtrai The allies also dominate
with their guns the railroad running
from Lille to the Belgian coast by way
of Courtrai and thus hamper, If they
have not cut off, all communication
between Ostend and Lille.
To Delay Allies.
The German resistance in Flanders
appears to be only for the purpose of
delaying the allies until the evacuation
of Belgium can be completed. The
enemy is reported to be evacuating
Ostend and to be sending large boat
loads of troops away from the coastal
region.
Between the Disc and the. Argonne
the French are pressing the enemy
hard and giving him little chance to
dig in should he desire to do SO. East
of the Disc the French are within
half mile on the Serre along most of
its length and have advanced between
five and six miles from Laon. Even
the AiSne is fast being lost to the en-
emy as d means of defense. The French
now threaten Rethel, having captured
Nanteuil-Sur-Aisne two and one-half
miles west of Rethel and about the
same distance east of Chateau Por-
cein. Keeping step with the American
French are moving forward west of
the crest. West of Grand Pre-, Gen
eral Gouraud has moved north of the
Aisne and taken the towns of Olizy
and Termes, Strengthening out bulge
in the allied line.
Between the Argonne and the
Meuse the Americans are battling for
ward thru the German wire entangle-
ments. Tanks have been brought up,
especially in the region west of Ro-
magne. AS on Monday the Germans
are resisting stubbornly but satisfac-
tory progress is being made.
Tanks Into Action. p.
With the American Army Northwest
of Nerdun, Oct 15.-Tanks were
brought into action by the Americans
today to break a way thru the enemy
wire entanglements west of Romagne.
Despite German resistance the prog
ress of the Americans, early reports
said, was satisfactory today.
The Germans apparently were ready
to contest the ground as stubbornly as
they did Monday. The enemy artil-
lery was being used freely to hold the
Americans, but the Yankee gunners
were doing much to break down the
German resistance.
Units of the second American army
which began operations October IL,
under command of Maj. Gen. Robert
J.. Bullard, today repulsed German
raid on their positions.
French War Statement.
Paris, Oct. 15.-French troops have
made an important advance toward
the important town of Rethel and
have captured the town of Nanteuil-
Sur-Aisne, two and One-half miles
west of Rethel, says the war office
statement today.
South of the Serre, the French also
have made a marked advance. The
towns of Remies, Barentoncel and
Monceau-Le-Wast have been taken. :
In the Argonne the French have
progressed beyond the Aisne west of
Grandpre and have capture the vii
lagos of Olizy and Termes. Nearly
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