The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-22
ADVANCING, ALONG

ADvANCING. ALUNG
CONTINUED from Page One)
| ding line has been outfanked in Bel
GUM, where the Scheldt river has
been crossed and east of LIE Cateau,
where the British and Americans ap-
| pear to have fought their way thru
all distractions. This line, therefore,
| may be rendered untenable for the
Germans who may be forced to fan
| back to the line of the Mouse before
attempting to stand at bay.
Disorganize Retreat.
In the meantime, attacks by the
allies in Belgium east of the Selle
| river and in the Disc region threaten
| to. disorganize the German retreat. In
Belgium the French and British are
boring into the enemy's position SO
swiftly tn; they may completely out
flank the German force still holding
the line to the southwest. Belgian
troops advancing toward Client are
Systematically clearing the country
| from the Dutch frontier down as far
| as Eecloo, on the Lys-Zeebrugge canal.
The French are within seven miles of
Client while the British have reached
the Scheldt near Journal.
Field Marshal Haigs men are within
two miles of Valenciennes and the
Germans are expected to abandon
| that city very quickly. Farther south
the railroad running from Valen-
ciennes into the Ardennes region is
| will prevent these British and Ameri-
cans from cutting in. In the Serre-
Disc sector the French have made ma
terial progress at various points.
In the Champagne region Generals
Berthelot and Gouraud have not been
able to advance during the past day.
nor have the Americans in the Ar
gonne been able to shake the defense
of the Germans, altho Rape woods
and Hill 299 have been taken from the
enemy by sharp attack.
Special Comrlunique.
London, Oct. 22.-British troops
| have reached the Escaut (Scheldt)
Journal, Field Marshal Haig an
nounced in his special Belgian COM
munique early today.
THE British advanced about a mile
between the Escaut and the Lys, while
| the French improved their positions
along the latter river.
British troops have reached the
Escaut between Bailleu1 (four miles
northwest of TournaD and Helchin
Give miles notheast Of BailleuD.
THE Germans have abandoned all
their coast defense guns"
Reach Rumanian Frontier.
London, Oct. 22.-While the allies
continue to drive the Germans back
on the west front from the Dutch
frontier to the Verdun region, French
troops have reached the Rumanian
border.
The French war office announces
that just thirty-four days after the
Balkan offensive was launched French
attachments arrived Sunday at the
Danube near Vidin, in Bulgaria, 95
miles north of Sofia and only As miles
from Hungarian soil. This repre-
of a mil loo
northward from the Lake Dorain re-
gion.
Further progress all along the
Balkan front was reported in official
| statements. Serbian troops are in
contact with the Germans, who are
strongly intrenched north of Alexsi-
natz and kruSsevatz, north of Nish.
Enclosing Journal.
With the British Armies in France,
Oct. 81 (night) British troops are
rapidly enclosing Journal, both to the
north and south. Deep wedges have
been driven into the German lines on
| both sides of this important city, and
its fall appears imminent. The en-
envy is stubbornly defending the ap-
proaches with artillery and machine
guns.
The Germans heavily shelled Neu-
Vile tonight, from which 1 saw wet
and bedraggled, but happy women,
children and old men escaping this
afternoon. They were being escorted
| by Tommies, who were carrying chick
ems, household goods and other valu-
ables.
Capture Big Gun.
London, Oct. 21.-Allied forces
(which have swept the Germans out of
Belgian Flanders captured the big
l5-inch cannon with which the Ger
mans have been bombarding Dunkirk
during the past year. The gun was
unchanged, according to an oficial
statement issued at the war office.
Towns Are Burning.
| With the American Army Northwest
| Brieulles and Clery-Le-Petit. along
| the western bank of the Mouse and
north of the American line, were re-
ported to be burning today.
There was little fighting activity
during the forenoon
The Germans bombarded the Amer
| lean left With mustard and other gas
| shells.
With the Allied armies in Belgium,
| Oct. 22.-Ffghting is progressing mere
land-there along the allied line north
eft Valenciennes for the purpose of
Strengthening out the front and con-
solidating positions. Between Tournai
and Valenciennes the British continue
their progress toward the Scheldt. On
| the front of both the third and fourth
armies high velocity guns and other
artillery are active. German machine
guns on the eastern bank of the Har.