The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-22
ADVANCES ALONG
BELGIAN Line TO
CHENT REPORTED
Strong French Forces Push
Toward the City.
German Resistance Stiffened
During the Night.
PERIOD OF PAUSE IS SEEN
Pressure Continues All Along
the Line.
Americans Face Horde of Ger
mans Near Meuse.
PERIOD OF PAUSE IS SEEN
Pressure Continues All Along
the Line.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press.)
Allied troops on the northern end
of the front in France and Belgium
today are driving into the German
line from west of Ghent past Tournai
to Valenciennes. This is the line OF
the Scheldt and two of the important
points on it's course-Tournai and VAL
enciennes, are almost within the grasp
of the British. German resistance is
stiffening between Tournai and VAL
enciennes the southern end of the So
mile line from Valenciennes to the
Dutch frontier. The British armies
however continue to proceed.
Capture Orcq.
Orcq within less than a mile OF
Tournai on the west has been cap
tured and the British hold La Sentin-
ellie one mile west of'Valenciennes.
North of Tournai the British are
along the Scheldt on a front of five
miles and north and south of this
sector rapidly are gaining the western
bank of the river.
| Between Valenciennes and lie Ca
| teau the British. maintain their pres
sure and have reached the Ecaillon
river at Thiant southwest of Valen-
ciennes.
French forces continued their pres
sure on the front from the junction or
| the Oise and the Serre eastward to
Vouziers. On the extreme left they
1
East of the Aisne at VouZiers, the Ger
mans have ceased their violent efforts
to dislodge the French from import
ant hill positions. The French here
are in a position to outflank the Ger
mans facing the Americans on the sec
tor west of the Meuse, which accounts
for the strong German efforts to drive
the French back. General Gouraud's
men, however have defeated all
\ enemy attacks.
French Toward Ghent.
British Headquarters in Belgium.
~lOct 22-Strong French forces at
tackled this morning on the center of
the allied front in Belgium and are
reported to be making excellent prog
ress in the direction of Ghent-
French troops hold front of about
ten miles along the Lys canal directly
west of Ghent. Monday 1t was report
ed the French had forced a crossing
of the Lys canal at Nevele, seven miles
west of Ghent, and established
bridgehead.
Slight Pause.
(By the Associated Press.)
With the Allied Armies in Belgium.
i Oct. 22.-The general situation in Bel
gium this morning seemed to be that
on most of the front tn called armies
had reached a period of pause which
is inevitable when rapid advances
have been made. German resistance
stiffened appreciably during the night.
especially along the Scheldt river.
On the front of the British fourth
army, with which the Americans are
, fighting, the night was quiet and the
situation is unchanged in the Valen-
, ciennes-Le Catsau area.
: Victory, as Usual.
: Berlin, Oct 22-American attacks
Monday north Of Sommerance and on
, a wide front on both sides of Banthe-
2 vile broke down, according to the Of
: ficia1 statement from German general
headquarters today.
Near to Journal.
; London, Oct 22.-The British after
3 sharp fighting have advanced to with
Z in less than a mile of Tournai. The
!, left banks of the Ecaillon was
: reached south of Thiant
I French Advance.
Paris, Oct. 22.-Further progress
was made last night by the French
on the serre front. the war office an
nounces. Fhe French reached the
railway northeast o1 Assis-Sur-Serrs
and also the st. Jacques farm, north
; west of Chalandry. German attacks
in efficiency. Artillery is active north
; of the Disc and near Chateau Porcien.
/, British Official.
q London, Oct 22-The official
: statement follows:
r LAS result of local fighting during
s the night we advanced our line to the
! left bank Of the river Ecaillon south
s of Thiant. the western portion Of
which is in our possession.
Further progress has been made
by our troops between Valenciennes
and Tournai. The enemys resistanco
on this front is increasing.
= In the Tournai sector as a result
of sharp fighting during the night we
drove the enemy out of the village Of
!: Orcq and the woods in the neighbor-
e hood of Froyenne. Our troops now
are within less than a mile from the
town"
s | London, Oct 22.-The British have
3 advanced their line to the left bank
0 of the Ecaillon river and have cap
0 tured the western part of the village
i OF Thiant, five miles southwest of VAL
2 enciennes. it is announced officially.
2 fBy the Associated Press.j
s Development of the plan being fol.
lowed by the German high command
in conducting its retreat from north
ern France and Belgium makes It sp-
parent that Metz is being used as a
pivot for the movement. While the
Germans are pouring fresh divisions
into the line in front of the Americans
. northwest of Verdun in an attempt to
a hold the line firmly. the rest of
\ the German legions are swinging back
l toward the Belgian frontier.
There are several situations along
e the front, however, which render Il
S possible and even probable that Mar
the orderly retirement of the enemy