The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-25
Started Today.
British Gain Ground South of
Valenciennes.
YANKS BUSY At VERDUh
French Resume Pressure, Disc
to the Serre.
S,4OO Prisoners Are Reported
Taken in Three Days.
oBy the Associated Press>

As the allied forces in Belgium end
France continue successfully to storm
the stubbornly defended Germ an lines,
Italian troops on the Italian northern
front have begun an offensive against
the Austrians. British troops today
are smashing their way eastward on
the sector between Valenciennes and
lie Ouesnoy which is vital to the Sc
curity of Nalenciennes. Further south,
the French, who have been gradually
forcing the enemy from the pocket
between the Oise and the Serre, nave
resumed their pressure and are re
ported to have entered Vlllers-Le-Sec
and surrounded La Ferte-
American forces have made fur
ther gains east and west of the Meu5e
despite strong enemy resistance. Ihe
Germans L the western end or the
line are reported to be preparing to
withdraw northward from Grand
Pre-. where their positions are out
fanked by the French east OF
Nouziers.
General Diaz Leads.
General Diaz in his new offensive is
reported to have driven the Austrians
from important heights north and
west of Monte Gr&ppa, between the
Piave and the Brenta. In the Pave
the Italians have captured two
islands.
In Belgium and north of Valen
ciennes, the allies maintain their
pressure, but the operations are of
minor Importance, as the situation on
the north depends upon the British
success around Valenciennes. East of
lie Cateau. the British are before the
Normal forest, while south along the
Disc and the Serre the French are
pressing hard against the Germans.
Since Wednesday morning the Brit
ish armies, fighting forward from
few miles north of Nalenciennes to
east of lie Cateau. have taken S,400
prisoners and 100 guns.
Outflanl1 the Hun.
Field Marshal Haig, his troops hav-
ing reached the western edge of the
Normal forest, apparently is striving
10 Outflank that natural barrier on the
north by advancing thru LIE QueSnoy
toward Mons and Maubeuge. The
Germans are fighting stiffly to prevent
this, resulting in desperate combats in
the villages and other vantage points
south of Nalenciennes. The British,
however, are pushing steadily ahead,
and have taken Maing and Nendegnies-
Fighting was resumed on this sector
Friday morning with the British ad
vancing from the hills east of the
Ecailion river toward the railroad and
high road between NalencienneS and
lie Quesnoy-
Immediately north of Valenciennes
the British have taken additional viii
lagos and continue to approach the
crossing of the Scheldt at Conde. This
town is six and one-half miles north
east of Nalenciennes.
French troops east of the Sambre
Disc canal, in the re~ion of Long
Champs. have repulsed two. German
attempts to drive them back across
Souche rivers the French resumed
their pressure, after having thrown
back enemy efforts south of Mont
Cornet.
Near to Amagnc.
East of Rethel the French have
made an important advance across the
Ardennes canal gaining the villages of
Ambly and Fleury. AT Ambly the
French are only three miles south of
the railroad junction at Amagne, the
gaining of which would compel the
Germans to withdraw from Rethel
and the line of the Aisne in that
region.
Italians in Drive.
London, Oct 25, 1:15 p. m.-Italian
troops have begun an offensive be-
tween the Piave and the Brenta. In
the Monta Grappa sector they ad-
vanced across the Ornic river and cap
tured Mons Solarolo, part of Monte
Prassolan and Monte Pertica. Four
armies are engaged. In the Piave
river the Italians have captured the
lSldnuS OF GraNe, rata apOll ana Ma g.
giore. The weather on the front is
unfavorable.
The British Line.
With the Allied Armies in France
and Belgium, Oct. 25.-On the high
ground south of Valenciennes the bat
tie is raging with intense fury. but the
British are gradually overcoming the
enemy. At last reports the British
held this line: From LIE Faux to Rob-
ersart to Englefontaine to Ghissignies
to Beasdignies, where they are within
mile and a half of LIE Quesnoy. to
the east of Ruesnes to Somnaing to
MonchauX. The British gained Mon
chaux after bloody fighting.
Penetrate ViIlcFs-Le-Sec.
London. Oct 25, p m-French
forces, advancing northeastward be-
tween the Oise and the Peron. a trib-
utary of the Serre. have penetra ted
. the village of Villers-Le-Sec and sur
rounded the village of La Ferte north
east of Nillers. The French also have