New-York tribune., 1918-10-24

Haig's Men Gain ON Three
Mile Front South of
Valenciennes
Garry Battle Into
Centre of the City
German Line Is Threatened
All the Way to the
Holland Border

WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE AND BELGIUM, Oct. % (By
The Associated Press (6 D. NJ. THE
British Third and Fourth armies to-day
smashed through strong German defen-
sive positions south of Nalenciennes.
They gained ground to a depth Of more
than 5000 yards about three miles) on
an extended front, capturing many i'm
portant villages and several thousand
prisoners, together with numerous
guns, and driving a wedge into the en-
emy positions at what probably is. the
most vital point of the lines the Ger
mans are holding
The fighting was of a desperate nat
ure, The uerman machine gunners hold
ing out 20 the last Large numbers of
the enemy were killed.
Driving Around Valenciennes
North of the Sd and 4th armies the
British 1st Army continued its attacks
and reached positions we'll to the north
east of Nalencienncs, which is gradual
ly being squeezed out. 1t is probable
that the Germans have already evac-
uat| d that town.
The British arc approaching lie
Quesnoy and were only about three
miles from the gates of that place, ac
cording TO latest reports. and were still
advancing.
The heaviest fighting seems to have
been in L'Eveque Wood, which is still
being cleared up, although the British
have passed completely around it and
are before the great Normal Forest
On the edge of this the Germans were
reported to be concentrating at Preux.
Ors and Catillon Taken
tal- 81. C<,1
'ns by assault. Ors is in British hands.
The Germans before retreating blew
up all the bridges over the canal be-
tween Catilon and Ors.
One corps holding the centre of the
Fourth Army front opposite lie Cateau
alone had taken 500 prisoners early in
the day.
The advance continues and the men
ace to the Germans TO the north and
south of the front attacked is hourly
glowing. Further retreats are ex-
pected.
The attack of the British Third and
Fourth armies on wide front south
OF Valencennes to-day is Of vital stra-
tegic Importance. The Allied salient
here menaces the German lines all the
way to Holland, and if it is widened it
will have q tremendous effect also on
The enemy front to the south.
. British troops were lighting their
wey into the centre of Nalenciennes
early today. They were facing a
strong enemy machine gun fire from
The east bank of the Scheldt Canal.
which flows through the city.
Masses Of British cannon. moved up
curing the comparative lul of the last
fcw days, early to-day loosed tons Of
steel 81 the enemy on the front of the
offensive, sprinkling front and rear
T,t,.r .11
centrated in crash barrage" behind
which the infantry advanced in an
early morning fog. storming the
hurriedly constructed enemy defences.
The Germans resisted strongly, espe-
cially the machine gunners. The en-.
emy artillery fire was generally weak,
indicating that his guns had been
known as the "Hermann Standing
Place"
This shows that the German COM
mand evidently did not have faith that
the exhausted infantry would be able
to hod the positions attacked to-day.
North of Journal British patrols
have crossed the Scheldt at several
Places, especially Pecq and Nivelles.
During the last three days British
troops in approaching towns have beer
careful not to she'll them when there
was the slightest chance that civilians
were in the town. The Germans, once
driven from the towns. promptly turned
their guns on them, killing and wound
ing civilians in several cases. In the
town of Hasnon German shell crushed
dwelling house, and fifteen women
and children hiding in the cellar were
killed or wounded.
The civilians generally have displayed
marked heroism. The act Of one French
woman stands out among many. A.
the Germans were getting ready to
ovacuate certain town the woman saw
them placing an explosive charge un-
Ger one of the most important bridge
IN the region. The Germans attach d
q slow fuse and went away The
French woman waited until night. She
then crept down the river bank unde,
the bridge and removed the charge
leaving the slow fuse. The next day
the Germans fled from the town, the
last group setting off the fuse 1t
sputtered and sizz'ed and the Germans
ran. but nothing happened