The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-10-24
Thrust Has Shaken Entire
Line of Defense All
Way to Channel
VALENCIENNES
Is IN POCKET
French Are Cooperating
by an Offensive South
Of the Disc
(By Associated Press.)


Field Marshal Halg's third and
fourth armies, having smashed
through the outer defenBes Of the
strategically important German line
south Of Valenciennes, continue sue.
cessfully to hammer their way to-
ward Maubeuge and Mons.
Today's attack started from the
new front gained Wednesday in ad-
Yances Of between three and four
| miles on front OF Is miles in which
more than 5000 prisoners and many
| guns are reported 10 have been
| taken.
The enemy is resisting stubbornly
but the British are forging ahead,
| capturing villages and other impor-
| tant points.
West of Maubeuge the British have
taken the village of Beaudignies, one
and one half miles southwest of La
| Quesnoy, the most important strong
| hold defending Meubeacge on the
/ west. In the same region they have
crossed the naturel barrier of the
Ecaillon river and rapidly are placing
Valenciennes in a pocket.
Apparently the British are not de-
sirous Of taking Valenciennes by
| fighting the Germans i'm the streets
VI the IOWn UuL pan 10 omAIlAuh IL
| The town now is partly surrounded
and the menace to it has been In
creased by the advance on the south
and the capture OF the entire Raismcs
| forest to the north.
| The British thrust undoubtedly has
shaken the German defeuses F5outh. of
tValenciennes which are so important
to the security Of the German ilns
northward to the Dutch border and
less the enemy can hold the British
attacks today 1t would seem they
would have to continue their retreat
in Belgium and also give up groun
south and east Of the Oise.
While the British are attacks
north of the Sambre canal to
ScheIdt, the French have begun
offensive south OF the Disc. The s.
bre canal has been crossed east
Grand Verify and the French ne
maintained their gains against stroA
German counter attacks. Betwef
the lSerre and the Disc and furtheA
east the French maintain their pres
sure and have gained ground south
of Montcournet.
General Gouraud now command3
the important defiles north and soutn
Of the great forest OF Boult, north
Of the Argonne. On the front Wess
Of the Meuse the Americans MAINTAIN
the important gains made Wednes-
dav and are In a position TO bring
about a German retirement on the
center and left Of the line. Wednes-
davis gains were mostly on the eA-
treune right and outflank the enemy
front westward toward the Argonne.
The British Official
London. Oct. 24.--sharp hghting
continued up to a late hour yester
day evening on the pattle 1fonL on,
south of Valenciennes where the
British attacked yesterday morning,
gayE todays official statement.
The British have crossed the
Ecafllon river and have captured
tbeviliages of Neuviile. Salesches
and Beauoignies. A German coun-
ter attack late yesterday was re-
pulsed This morning the attacA
was resumed all along the front bes
tween the Sambre- Et-Oise cAnaA
and the Scheldt.
yaIenciennes. has been occupied by
the British. North of the forest the
British have captured the villages or
Thiers. Haute Rive and Thun-
Determined local lighting TOOK
place also west OF Tournai without
material change in the situation.
The French Official
Paris. Oct. 24.-Southeast Of Ls
Cateau French troops have crossed
the Sambre canal east of Grand
yerly. SAYS the war office state@
ment today. The French maintain
ed their gains east of the canal in
spite Of strong German counter at
tacks.
south of Montcornet. further 10
the east, the French have increased
their gains, north Of Nizy-le Comte.
Along the Serre there was lively
fighting north of Mesbrecourt.
The statement reads:
"On the Disc front we have cross
ed the canal front east OF Grand
Verify. In spite of strong counter
attacks by enemy detachments we
maintained our positions on the
east bank.
Between the oise and the Sers
there also was lively fighting near
the railroad north of MesbrecOurt.
We took prisoners. North OF Nizy
le Comte the French during the
night increased considerably their
previous gains.
SON the plateau east Of Vouziers
the artillery on both sides was very
active.
Took 5000 Prisoners.
with the Allied Armies in Francs
and Belgium, oct. 24.--A:3D q. M
The British have taken more than
5000 prisoners and many guns ln
their new attack, begun yesterday
(csontinue7 on mage A.