The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-10-23

Between LIE Cateau and Solesmes,
the British are on the high ground
east OF the Selle River and 1t Is from
this favorable position today's attack
was begun. The German resistance
here has been bitter as the line Is
vital to the security Of the German
defenses over wide front to the
south and southeast.
Close In on Journal.
In southwestern Belgium the Brit
ish continue to close In on Journal.
North of the town they have forced a
crossing of the Schildt while on the
south they have reached the western
bank of the river on.a four mile front
from Bruyelles to Bleharies.
South of lie Cateau the enemy Is
resisting stubbornly French attempts
TO cross the Serre river and take IN
the rear the German positions east OF
the Oise. South of the railroad juno
tion Of Mont Cornet the French have
made progress between Nizy-Le-Comte
and LIE Thour.
Prince Maximilian, the German
chancellor. has promised the German
reichstag that 1t will be more respon-
sible for war and peace. They added
the proviso, however, that such step
will not become effective until after
the war and when league Of nations
is in practical operation.
The British troops in their new at
tack north Of LIE Cateau, are reported
to have captured the town OF Romer-
les, one and one-half miles northeast
of Solesmes.
A good many prisoners, mainly In
small groups, are being brought in.
The Germans are fighting doggedly.
but have been driven back about
mile along the entire front.
"WAR OF DEFENSE"
Defensive warfare will be carried
on by the German nation, If the pres
ent government fails to secure a
peace with justice" said Prince Max
jmilian, the German imperial chancel-
Ior, speaking before the Reichstag
Yesterday. The address lends new
light on the latest note sent from
Berlin to Washington.
The German people want, first. to
know what President Wilson's -four
teen points" mean to the future OF
Germany. II satisfactory answer is
not obtained call 'for national de-
fense" will be issued by the national
government, said Prince Maximilian.
"This war OF defense is not far dis
tant." II military events continue to
develop during the near future, as
they have in the recent past. During
the last 81 days of fighting, the Allies
have advanced on the line Of the Pont-
Au-Mousson to Neuport, an average
distance of about 2S miles. This ad-
vance has aggregated 3S miles from
Chateau-Thierry to Grand Lup, 80
miles from Amiens to the Sambre
river and 3S from Dixude to the Eeclo-
Zeebrugge canal. The grand average
is held to a low figure by the fact that
attacks east of Rheis have not car
red the German line back over per-
menent Notifications and aginst des-
perate resistance as far as the enemy
was forced to fee further west and
north. In this sector. the progress,
however, is as important as much
greater advances in some other part
Of the front.
Line is Stabilized.
Standing behind the Scheldt river.
the Germans seem, for the moment at
least to have stabilized their line and
the swift advance OF the Belgians,
British and French has been slowed
down. British troops. however, have
succeeded in crossing the River east
Of Pecq. north of Valenciennes. That
city too, has been entered by the
British, but it seems that part OF the
place Is still held by the enemy.
Further south the British, Ameri-
cans and French are fighting hard in
their attempts to break the Hunding
line. This defensive position, while
not as formidable as the Hindenburg
system, is sufficiently strong to delay
the Allies advance materially At
last reports, the British and Ameri-
cans were advancing slowly east OF
the Selle river. The same situation
obtains further down the line. around
what remains of the Laon salient.
The eyes of the allied world are
now directed at the Lorraine and
Woeyre sectors In expectation OF an
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