Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1918-10-31
RETREATS
IN DISORDER ON
FRENCH FRONT
Germans Fall Back on Hirson
Under Heavy Blows.
POlLUS REACH OPEN GROUND
Success of Gen. Debeny's Army Is
Won by Sheer Fighting-Ameri-
cans Seize Belleu Wood After
Several Days Strenuous
Fighting.

Fighting.
London, Oct 29.-The Germans are
reported falling back to the high ground
covering Hirson, following a French
advance Of five miles on a front Of 16
miles between the Disc and the Serre.
The enemy has been losing heavily in
this area
The German official statement says
and the Serre have been withdrawn
to q line west of Guise and east of
Cercy."
ut is impossible as yet to measure
the German retreat before the armies
of Generals Debeney, Mangin and Gull
laumat between the Disc and the
Aisne," says a Paris dispatch:
Disorder in Retreat.
ALREADY the retreat is taking on
character Of disorder. despite the en-
.gagement of fresh German divisions at
the critical points"
The Guise-Marne railroad has been
cut by French cavalry and the fall of
Guise is assured.
The French continued their advance
between the Disc and the Aisne, espe-
cially on the left flank. The war office
reported the capture Of Hill 123 north
Of Crecy, on the Serre.
The British launched a new attack
south of Valenciennes. Overcoming
OIL inonr0un1
sitions and drew closer to the town.
which is infested with enemy machine
guns.
Americans Seize BeIleu Wood.
With the American Army Northwest
Of Verdun, Oct 29.-Belleu wood, east
Of the Meuse, is finally and complete
~ in American hands, after strenuous
fighting for several days.
American lOng-range guns began fir
ing on Longuyon. The town Of Longu'
yon is % miles northeast Of Verdun,
The American long-range fire also is
being directed against the vital Vote
de ROcade on the railway line paral
Icing the front The Germans are de-
pending on this road to shift their
troops and supplies from one point to
another.
U. S. Sailors Shell Huns.
With the American Army in France,
Oct. 26. - American 16-inch guns
manned by American bluejackets CO.
operating with the French began firing
upon German railroad centers back OF
the Serre-Oise front. The Americans
directed their shells against railroad
supply stations and functions in the
region Of Vervins and also in the vi.
cinity of Rozoy.
Use Most Powerful Guns Of War.
Washington, Oct. 26.-Announce'
ment from France that American 10
inch naval guns, manned by naval gun
crews have come into action with the
American army at the front, disclosed
that through efforts of the ordnance
officials of the navy, General Per-
shing's forces are now equipped with
the most powerful and hardeSt-hit
ting weapons yet used in the pres
ent war, ashore or afloat, as far as is
known.
The 16-inch rifles are similar to
those designed for use aboard the new
est American dreadnaughts. They are
so caliber more than &c feet in length
and weigh approximately 100 tons
without their carriages.
Without question they are the long
est-range guns in use except the Ger
man super guns, which are regarded
merely as a mechanical freak.
The projectile weighs close to a ton
and it's bursting charge Of the most
powerful explosive known is measured
in hundreds Of pounds against the few
pounds in the German supergun shell
The destructive effect is enormous.
Plans for using big rifles for the
army are understood to have been
worked out entirely by naval officers
These are not the only great naval
guns employed by the American army
Military experts say that the man
ner in which these great engines OF
war have spread. death and destruc'
ton among the ret#Hting enemy ever
since September 16 proved dominat'
ing factor in bringing to the German
general staff the realization that nc
modern defensive system, either in
Belgium or on the Rhine, could with.
stand the new weapons which Ameri'
can ingenuity had devised, forged and
placed in action on the western front