The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-10-16
Menin le CAPTURED,

With The Allied Armies In Belg-
ium, Tuesday, Oct 15.-Menin has
fallen. Allied troops are a mile cast
OF Roulers and advanced patrols are.
according to latest reports within a
mile OF Courtrai. The Lys river seems
TO have been crossed between Com
ines, which has been captured, and
Warneton. Reports indicate that an
other crossing of the Lys has been
effected at Wervicq. although this has
not been confirmed at this hour.
South of the zone where the mud
shattered allied troops, fighting their
way forward through the rain and
the mist and over sticky ground, the
enemy has begun withdrawal. )FIis
troops are being moved backward
from Pont-a-Vennin and Berclau
and from the Rolleghem front. Here
British patrols have reached the out
skirts OF the town Of Neurchin.
Everywhere the Germans are fight
ing rear guard actions with large
numbers of men involved in the
struggle. The battle Is being fought
in a continuous rain, which makes
the fighting increasingly difficult.
Troops storming ahead lose their
footing, some sinking in as far as
their knees. The wounded returning
from the front are spattered with the
mud.
seIgians Take Bevern.
Cuern has been stormed and taken
and the Belgians have captured
Bevern station. They are east and
north of the Bevern canal and are be-
fore 1seghem.
Today's gains have further turned
the German lines both north and
south Of the area under attack and
the enemy retirement from the south
ward Is the result. Further with
drawaIs on a broad scale may be ex-
pected unless the weather continues
so bad as to prevent further advance.
The enemy is showing signs of great
nervousness and more fires and ex-
plostons are reported.
Elsewhere along the front other
British forces are gaining the ground
but their progress has been merely
to straighten the lines and TO carry
out consolidating operations in adj
yantageous positions.
Enemy defenses of great strength
were encountered during the day by
the British. There were wired en-
tanglements Of great depth and In
Vulnerable pill boxes which had to be
reduced.
An Impressive WeIcorre.
There was an impressive scene a&
A French major gathered the resident
civilians and German prisoners
around a battered piano around tiie
square and as the shells screamed
over head he played the Marseilaise.
Did you ever hear that?" he ash
ed the people of the city. The civil
ians oheered themselves hoarse.
RiouIers was In good condition and
in~tlle German retirement east of the
city the Ingelmunster road has been
crossed. lit appears that the enemy
withdrawal south of the area under
attack will involve the whole Lille
salient.
Definite information has been re-
ceiyed that the Germans removed
Spanish and American rations worth
$1,000 francs before abandoning
RouIers The civilians there ceased
over their liberation long
enough To show the French troops
where there were some enemy mines
which were designed to destroy q
large part OF the town. They also
revealed the hiding places Of sprne
Germans.
Tonights reports indicate that the
French cavalry has managed to get
through the German lines. II ie said
they have reached Iachteryelde and
fContinued on Page SD