Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-11-05

slowing closing jaws. Since Sat
urday noon these jaws have ap-
preached each other an aggregate
Of II miles. The lower jaw now
rests al Beaumont, just west of
the Meuse. The other IS close to
the eastern edge of the great Nor
NAL forest, wes. Of Maubeuge.
The advance against Ghent is an
other development of the same
movement and still further imper-
lis the only avenue Of retreat re
naming TO the Teutonic armies.
French Cut Hunding Line
From the Disc to the Aisne at
Chateau Porcien the French main
tain close contact with the enemy
who is moving TearwaTd as a re
suit OF the French successes of the
last few days. South Of Guise the
French first army is. advancing
srOrtheaStward between -the Peron
and the Serre. Further east the
French have penetrated the form,
idable Hunding line. making an ad
vance of one mile on a front of five
miles on the western wing of the
forward movement Continuation of
the advance here soon will compel
the Germans to give up the line of
The Aisne east and west of RetheI
to which they have clung so stub
boTnly.
American troops on front of Is
miles along the Meuse from Bri-
eulles Dorthward to Pouilly are
successfully forcing their way
"a Tgrfn17I1aS
river has been crossed in bitter
lighting and the Americans also
have reached the east bank at
Ciery-Le-Petit Where the Meuse
curves the Americans have crossed
the river and taken the village of
Pouilly. after driving the enemy
from the Jaulnay wood.
Yanks OutfIank Hun Lines.
The Americans on the west bank
of the Meuse north of Stenay are
within four miles of the German
main communication line from Sc
dan to Metz at a point northwest
OF Chauvenoy. The successful
crossing of the Meuse outflanks the
German positions east of the Meuse
toward the Moselle, which protect
the important Briey iron fields and
important railroad and supply lines
il the regions of Montmedy. and
Contains From the Meuse west to
the Aisne the Americans and
French maintain their pressure
against the Germans defending the
Mezieres- Sedan railway line, 10
miles to the north.
Americans Drive Ahead.
With the American Army on the
Sedan Front, Nov 5, 1:15 p. m
fBy the Associated Press. Bitter
fighting is taking place today along
the Meuse river American patrols
again have succeeded in crossing
the river at BrieulIes on a pom
toon bridge constructed under fire.
At other points along the front the
Americans were accommodating
ether crossings.
The Germans have blown up the
bridge across the Neuse between
Laneuville. on the west hank. anc
the important town of Stenay, on
the east bank. After the pontoon
bridge at Brieulles had been con
structed the Americans threw a
second bridge across the Meuse at
A4eTN LEI tllL anu btSdl uIFOAOE
ing new line on the heavily
wooded and very difficult ground
east of the river between Clery and
Brieulles. a 212 mile front
Hold All of West Bank.
The town of Pouilly, in the bend
Cf the Meuse northwest of Stenay,
was captured by the Americans op-
Grating west of the Meuse. The
west bank of the river now is held
il its entirety as far north as Pou-
lily
The troops which crossed to the
east bank Of the Meuse found their
advance opposed by bitter machine
sun and artillery fire. This was
overcome. however, and the Amer
leans are making steady progress
The village of Beaumont, directly
west Of Pouilly. has been taken by
the forces which advanced from
the heights which they held below
the town. The important town OF
Stenay. across the Meuse 10 the
southeast, is now half surrounded.