The Topeka state journal., 1918-10-26
French Dent Important De-
fenses Along Serre.
British Hammer German Lines
Around VaIencienneS.
AMERICANS GAIN VICTORY
Germans Have Lost $4,000
Prisoners in Four Days.
rev Successes by English at
the Normal Forest.
(Ry the Associated Pressl


bulwark of the German defenses in
France continued to make important
dents IN the enemy positions along the
Serre and eastward, while the British
hammer at the pivotal point around
Valenciennes. Southwest of Marie,
the French have captured Mortiers, on
the Serre, while further east in the re-
gion southeast of Montcornel, General
Petain's men have smashed thru the
German lines on front of four and
one half miles to Il depth of two miles
at certain points. The German de-
fsnses here were formidable, having
been prepared in 1917 ana contlnu-
ously reinformed.
In the last four days the Germans
have lost nearly $1,000 prisoners and
200 guns. according to unofficial esti-
mates in Paris. Tine enemy losses in
effectives are declared to have been
not less than 50.0c0.
Gains Near Valcncienncs.
In enc:rcling Va1enciennes, the
British have gained new successes
north and south of the town. On the
edge of the Normal forest, on the
south. Field Marshal Haig's men have
taken Englefontaine and Mont Carmel
hill. In the bend of the river Scheldt
northwest of Nalenciennes, the Brit
ish have moved eastward and captured
the villages of Odomez and Maulde.
The American troops, on the sectors
east and west of the Meuse, are being
subjected to strong German reactions.
especially with artillery. but maintain
their hold on the new ground won
Friday. North of Grand Pre- the
Americans have strengthened their
position in the southern part of the
BourGogne wood.
London, Oct. 26.-The British con-
q r1
Nalenciennes and Journal, Field Mar
shal Haig announces.
They have captured the villages of
Odomez and MaulGe on the front
north of Nalenciennes.
British patrols have progressed
north of the railway between Valen-
ciennes nd lie Quesnoy.
SoHth of Nalenciennes the British
borders OF the Normal forest, captur-
ing Mount Carmel hill and Englefon-
taine.
Serbs Occupy Kraiicvo.
LonCon. Oct. 26.-Kralievo. sixty
miles cas,-northeast of Nish, has been
occupied by the Serbian troops, says a
Serbian official statement issued Fri
day. IN the same region the Serbians
have crossed the Tsnitsa river.
(By the Associated PressO
While the British. French and Amer
leans are slowly breaking their way
thru the stubborn German defense
along the line south of Valenciennes,
the attention of the allied world is
directed. for the moment at least. to
the Italian front where General Diaz
seel to have started a major opera
tion.
Fighting on large scale appears to
have begun on Thursday when the
Austrian official statement reported
heavy artillery fire from the Brenta
reported Friday that Italian, British
and French forces attacked between
the Brenta and Piave rivers and ad-
Vanced over rough country for a con-
siderable distance. At the same time
the allies moved ahead and captured
Islands in the Piave above the Mon
tello plateau.
Ahmed at Austria.
This stroke was aimed at the angle
in the Austrian line which runs from
the Adriatic along the Piave until it
reaches the mountains and then turns
to the west. If tne allied attack
makes material progress the Austrian
armies on the lowlands near the sea
and those holding the front in the
mountainous sector may be divided
The number of prisoners taken. 5000
would seem to indicate fighting of a
serious nature.
1t is too early to determine whether
General Diaz has really begun an Of
fenslve or is merely directing d n oper-
alton which is in the nature of a di-
version 1t may be that the morale of
the Austrian army, which has repeat-
edly been reported to he very low will
be determined by the fighting during
the next few days.
Continue Blow.
British troops are continuing their
blow against the German line south of
the bend of the ScheIdt above Valen-
ciennes. PROGRESS there has been COM
paratively slow but it would appear
that the railroad between Quesnoy and
Nalenciennes has been crossed and
the British are at the outskirts of
QuesnoY. There is an apparent eff
fort on the part of Field Marshal Haig
to avoid a direct assault against the
Normal forest just to the south. where
the Germans are solidly intrenched
and have countless machine guns and
light guns in position. Northeast of
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