The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-07
GERMAN HOLl1S
BR0KEN.ON THE
WESTERN FRONT
French Crack Hun Resistance
at Rethe1-VOuzieres.
Cross the River in Pursuit OF
the Foe.
vERVINS NOW IS CAPTURED
French Near HirsOn-British
Approach Maubeuge.
Americans Are Within -Four
Miles of Sedan.
VERVINS NOW IS CAPTURED
CBy the Associated Press)


Cermany's hold on the Aisne from
Rethel eastward to above Vouzieres,
which has remained firm while the
rest of the enemy front crumbled, was
broken Wednesday. French troops
have thrown bridges across the river
ana are in close pursuit OF the Zoe,
Nho is abandoning vast quantities OF
munitions and material of war as he
fees toward the ever-narrowing gap
that leads thru Belgium to compare
tive safety.
Capture Vervins.
Vervins has been captured. Rethei
has baen evacuated by the Germans
while the French are rapidly APP
preaching the vital railroad center Oh
Hirson from the west.
British forces are moving up toward
Maubeuge from the southwest and the
Americans in the Mouse sector are
withiu four miles of Sedan, where, on
September 1. 1871, the decisive battle
of the Franco-Prussian war was
fought and Napoleon III was taken
prisoner by the Germans.
While the military forces of the al
lies have thus been virtually crushing
the last vestige of enemy resistance IN
eastern France. Germ1n emissar1es
have been rushing from Berlin toward
the battle front to meet Marshal Foch
and receive at his hands the condi-
tons upon which the allied nations
will agree to cessation of hostilitles.
The German plenipotentiaries crossed
the battle front Wednesday night and
were to meet the commander in chief
of the entente legions at dawn this
morning.
Battle Keeps on.
The approach of the German COM
mission, however. did not bring about
any abatement in the pressure against
the enemy. Everywhere along the
"a c0nvprpfnp FORCES of thu AL
lies seemed rather TO increase the
weight of their sledgehammer blows
and the past day, it seems has brought
confirmation of the statement made a
few days ago that the contend1ng ar
mics were locked in a battle which
promises to be decisive. Entente
troops have crossed the Austro- Hun
garian lines at several points to take
the places of the troops of the dual
monarchy SO that the latter can be
This is the first actual step toward
carrying out the terms Of the arnis-
tice between the allies and Austria.
Four Miles from Sedan.
London, Nov 7-American troops
advanced on a wide. front astride the
Mouse Wednesday, the American off,
cial .communique announced today.
West of the river. the Americans
captured Raucourt. Bulson and Har-
aucourt, carrying their lines to within
less than four miles of Sedan.
Along the east bank, they advanced
about two miles and a half, occupying
Murvaux, Fontaines and Hill 284.
East of the Mouse we advanced
four kilometers and captured Muir
vaux, Hill 2S4 and Fontaines." the
statement said.
"west of the river we captured Rau-
court, Bulson and Paramount"
Pursue the Enemy.
Paris, Nov. Along the entire
French front the pursuit of the re-
treating Germans was taken up again
this morning, according to today's war
office announcement. The French
have thrown cavalry into the action
on their right, where the mounted
troops are pushing in the direction OF
the Mouse.
Continue Progress.
London, Nov. 7.-British forces are
continuing their progress along the
Franco-Belgian battle line. North
east of Valenciennes, according to
Field Marshal Haig's report today
they have reached the outskirts OF
Quievrain and Crespin. close to the
Belgian border.