Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-24
STIFF RESISTANCE
RETARDS ADVANCE
OF ALLIED ARMIES
Enemy Puts UP Stubborn
Defense in Most Criti-
cal Sectors.
MOST VICIOUS FIGHTING
WEST OF MEUSE RIVER
French Progress Two to Three
Miles Northeast of
Laon.
AMERICANS TAKE BRIEULLEs
ficld Marshal Haig Continues Sue
ccssful Drives North and South
Of Valencicnnes.
'AERIcANs TAKE BRIEULLEs
fBy Associated Press

The allied armies In France and
Belgium are stlll driving the Germans
toward their border. but the process
Is now comparatively slow. On the
sectors that are requisite TO the sta
eil'ty OF the entire German linc-where
crash through probably would mean
tho immediate collapse OF the whole
OF tho defensive systematic most
stubborn resistance is being offered by
The enemy. and what gains are being
made by the allics are virtually foot
by foot in the face OF the hornets OF
INC oattle line-thc machine guns
Particularly vicious lighting is In
phoEress west OF the Meuse River,
where the Americans. in their cndcav-
barring .he way northward TO sedan
arc faced by picked troops with orders
] 70 hold them back at ali costs: In the
OF Nalencennie3, where the British and
some Americans gradually are tearing
,nsir way through the enemys 'front.'.
ana between Tournai and Audcnarde e.
where the British also are hard after
,hc enemy.
bRITIsH AND AMERICANS
CAPTURE MANY PRISONERS
notwithstanding the frantic cndcav-
ors .y9f the enemy TO maintain their
positions on all three of these sectors.
mater'ai mate p5oETess has been made. Like
on an eight-niic front. have delivered
thrust that carried them forward
tto,n two to three miles. into the
hands OF the British have fallen 1000
more German prisoners. while the
americans west OF the Mcusc also have
gathered In numbers Of the enemy and
considerable quantity of his machine
guns.
Neritable nests OF machine guns are
being encountered by the Americans
the front from r1hecMeuse, to tho town
OF Grand Pre-, situated north OF the
trsonne forest. but in spite Of these
Grounu and at last accounts were
steadily kecping up their pressure
asalns: The enemy. Extremely heavy
sustained north Of Grand Pre-. and on
,his sector particularly strong concen-
trations OF enemy artillery lire have
ern bank OF tho Meuse the town Of
Brtculles has been taken. the enemy
having burned and evacuated It and
Dun.
Exactly what has hccn accomplished
by the French in a drive northeast OF
over 2 wide front. has not ye. become
anparen,; but II brings appreciably
nearer MGnteornet; the last important
nRITISH CAPTURE BRUAY
II. a. .ALtiSCIESSES
North and south OF Valenciennes.
Field. Marshal Haig has continued his
attacks against the Germans and every
where made good progress. Between
lie Cateau and Solesmes, sharp wedge
has been driven into the German line.
threatening the town of Naubeuge on
the east and outiianking Valenclennes
on the south. North OF Valcnciennes
the town or Bruay has been captured.
virtually making Valcnciennes unten-
able for the enemy. To the north OF
this region the British have reached
tho west bank OF the Scheldt Canal
Already the British are in the west
crn outskirts of Valenciennes. where
hard fighting Is In progress. the Ger
mans having posted machine guns in
Vulnerable on the eastern bank OF the
canal which runs to the center Of the
city.
In Northern Belgium the Germans
are still retiring. Unofficial reports
are to the effect that Ghent Is being
evacuated.