Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-13
FOE IN FURIOUS EFFORT
TO HALT ALLIED ADVANCE
British and Americans Under Heavy
Fire in Further Advance
East of Cambria.
DETAILS OF FRIDAYS BATTLE
French Control Strip on West BanB
of Disc Canal--Anglo-Americans
Press Across River Scllc, Estab-
fishing Themselves on East Bank.
icy Associated Press. Z,


WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE. Friday. October 1.-THE
enemy to-day began an attempt to
SLOW up the Anglo-Amcrican advance
on the main battle front. All the
bridges across the River Selle. from lie
Cateau southwark, werc blown UP and
the Germans seem to have been digging
In furiously along the line Of the high
ground some 1000 to 1000 yards east
of the river. which already had been
crossed by the British and Americans
at several places. Apparently the Ger
mans intend to make stand here
In this locality all of to-day's oper-
ations have been devoted to gaining
the river crossings and establishing
firm footing on the cas-. bank. There
has been sharp machine-gun fighting
and the Germans, from the high ground
of LIE Cateau. have poured heavy fire
upon the west bank of the river.
AS soon the Americans and the
cavalry entered st. Souplet. south of
Le Cateau, they came under heavy
fire from the German gun concentra-
tion. 1t Is reported that the enemy
open sights Luckily. their aim was
South of here tho British and the
enemy territory, and the French now
control a long, strip of the, west bank
Of the the Disc Canal anal British advanced
bank at Longchamps. but they had
made too rapid progress. and conse-
qucntly returned.
BRITISH DRIVE STEADILY
AHEAD TOWARD DOUAI
The British. by their drive launched
this morning. on the northern fringe
OF the battle area, now are operating
and have reached positions less than
l-2 miles from Douai. The troops are
driving northeastcrly toward this city
salient in the former Gcfman positions.
There are strong indications that the
Germans realize they must get out OF
1t Is not improbable that one OF the
enemy's principal idens in trying to
SLOW up he advance in the area south
forces in the Douai salient, for every
foot gained in this battle area increases
bouai POCKET. The British eneou I'm reG
hard opposition In the Scarpc opera
tons tons but but they have made rapid prog
%e 70 sesaa cas-, of nnS
and Novelties sous Bellone.
been hghting hard in the environs OF
lie Cateau, and the better part OF to-
day was REQUIRED to clear them out.
lContinucd From First paEc)
Little posts OF the enemy apparently
had been left behind with Instructions
to sell themselves as dearly as posi-
S SGla p dht oneySd orders and frequently
BY the end Of the day. however. it
appeared that most of them had been
were then reported to be moving east.
ward on the road between lie Catenu
and Bazuel: some three miles to the
he about 5000 yards distant.
Northeast Of lie Cateau the Canadians
were were In the outskirts of the town OF
against other stubborn enemy machine
gunners.
ENEMY MAKES GOOD
TIME IN DIGGING IN
1t was during last night that the
digging In were received and these
were confirmed to-day. BY midday the
enemy n seemed to have a continuous
east of LIE Catcau. southwark i'm front
or Mennevret. and east OF Grougis,
while in Aisonville and the area near
1t, fires were burning briskly.
The enemy is By no means sure of
hoiding on to his quickly arranged line
being simply n scratch on the surface.
Moreover, the roads TO the east arc
that the retreat is in progress far
back OF the present location OF the
ifatgued killing Germans. During the
last twenty-four hours they have fred
hundreds Of thousands of rounds from
their machine guns and dropped hun
dreds OF tons Of bombs on targets il
was impossible to miss.
me road between lie Cateau and
hazuel oners some remarkahlel op-
portunities for the aviators. Again and
again great numbers of British planes
s,wooped low over this road and emptied
their guns into masses OF men and on
transports. which were SO thick that
me builets could not help but take
effect. The road was moro than once
blocked with dead men and horses,
upset wagons and masses of equipment
All this was cleared away and the
retreat continued. only TO be upset
quickly again by the air attack.
Bombs also were dropped on inassed
German troops and masses of mon and
transports in the neighborhood of Was
siSny and other towns back OF the Ger
man positions. wide flights also have
been made over the German rear and
there still are no signs that any real
lines or defense have been constructcd
AS matter of fact the enemy hardly
mas mad time to construct such de-
lenses. SO fast has he been kept on
the run. There are no Indications thar
Inc me. Germans viii be. able actually 20