The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-11-04
AT
VERDUN GAIN
II MILES IN
THREE DAYS
Smashing Blows Dealt Enemy
on Western Front-Haig
Launches New Attack Near
Scheldt.
TAKE 5000 PRISONERS
(By Associated Press.)

(By Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4-The
first American army has captur-
ed dominating heights from the
Germans northwest of Verdun
and brought under the fire of its
heavy guns the important rail-
roads of Mont de Medy, Longu-
yon and Conflans. General Per-
shing reports in his Sunday
evening communique announc-
ing an advance for the first
army of IL miles on an eight
mile front in three days.
Prisoners captured numbered
more than 5000 and guns more
than 100. In the action have
been regulars and national army
troops from Texas, Oklahoma,
Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, New
Mexico, New York, New Jersey,
Maryland, West Virginia. Vir-
ginia and the District of Colum-
bia.
More than 10000 prisoners and sew
eral hundred guns have been taken
by the 48th British division operating
on the Asiago plateau towards the
Trentino, 1t is announced in an Off
cial statement issued by the British
! war Office today.
On the Venetian plains the forces
that effected q crossing OF the Taglia-
mento river included the -332d Ameri
can regiment.
Smashing blows are being dealt the
| Germans on the western front and the
| callopse of the present enemy de-
| fense positions appears close at hand
| In the Italian theater hostilities were
to end today at p. m. g o'clock Mon
| day morning in the eastern United
States) but up to that hour the Italian
and allied forces continued to press
the Austrians on the entire front, the
advices indicated.
| On the northern end of the front in
France, Field Marshal Haig on Mon
day morning, launched a new attack
south of the Scheldt in the region Of
| Valenciennes The operation began
successfully on wide front and this
vital sector of the German position is
in great peril.
Americans at Sommauthe.
The French army maintains its
pressure, but fighting activity is less
than on Sunday and last week. Ger
man artillery has been active along
| the Aisne front, probably protecting
an enemy retirement, which is newt
] able in view of the allied success
north and east.
! General Pershing's armies are pres
sing forward east and west of the
| Meuse and the Germans apparently
are not yet prepared to make a stand.
Stenay and the gap In which 1t lies Is
being encircled and its fall would ap-
pear to be near.
/ In the center of the sector west of
the Meuse, the American first army
has driven forward to Sommauthe, 13
miles south of Sedan, the most i'm
portant German railway center be-
} tween Mezieres and Metz
: Foe Faces Military Doom.
Germany, deserted by her allies, is
apparently facing a great disaster on
the western front. There have been
many times during the past three
months that it seemed that the Teu-
tonic armies were in critical posi-
ton, but they always have managed
to avoid a debacle. Now, however,
there is a greater possibility than
ever that the hour of Germany's mill
tary door may not be far distant.
This crisis has arisen during the
past three days. American and
French attacks were west of the
Meuse river, which seemed to be
gaining but little, apparently sapped
the strength of the enemy. When
ixI ca
on aspects of rout rather than an
carried out on dozens of battlefields
from the North seat to Chateau-Thier-
ry since July Is.
On Sunday evening, at o'clock.
American contingents were in Belval
wood, six miles directly west o.
Stenay, a vital point in the German
line along the Meuse. They were only
fourteen miles south of Sedan, which
is the center of the whole German
railroad system In eastern France.
Retreat Diverted.
i 1t now appears that the Germans
who have been holding the line run
ming westward through the Cham
payne country cannot retreat east
ward but must be diverted northward
through Belgium. This will add many
weary miles to the length Of the jour
ney that seemingly must be begun at
once.
In Belgium, the fall of Ghent Is i'm
minent, for the Belgians. French.
British and Americans are rapidly
moving ahead The Scheldt has been
| crossed at Welden, southwest Of
| Ghent, while the Belgians are moving
| toward the Scheldt northeast Of the
city. =. 1;