The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1918-10-25

1Ilcy IOOh o,OOO PAAoOilCAo.
The British and French troops are
aiding the Italians in their new Of
fensive. According to reports reach
ing London today, the attacks of the
allies are meeting with considerable
success, Notwithstanding unfavorable
weather conditions.
In Belgium and north of Valencien-
mes, the allies maintain their pressure
but the operations are of minor i'm
portance as the situation on the north
depend upon the British success
around Valenciennes. East of LIE
Normal forest. Field Marshal Haig,
his troops having reached the western
edge of the Normal forest apparently
is striving to outfank that natural bar
ries on the north by advancing
through LIE Quesnoy toward Mons and
Maubeuge. Further south the French,
who have been gradually forcing the
enemy from the pocket between the
Ois and the Serre have resumed their
pressure and are reported to have en-
tered Villers lie Sec and surrounded
La Ferte.
American forces have made further
gains east and west Of the Meuse de-
Germans on the Western end Of the
line are reported to be preparing to
withdraw northward from Grandpre
where their positions are outflanked
by the French east of Vouzieres.
Since Wednesday morning the Brit
ish third army has taken 5000 pris-
oners and the first and fourth armies
each have taken 1900, making a to-
tai of s,400 More than 100 canon
were captured Wednesday and Thurs
day.
Allies at Normal Woods.
Inroads by the British and Ameri-
cans against the German line south of
Valenciennes continue and it seems
probable that the enemy will be
forced to begin a new retreat toward
the east.
Although the allies have reached
the Normal Woods, where the Ger
mans have prepared for a stubborn
defense, the progress made just to the
north of this extensive wooded Sec
tion threatens to turn the enemy out
OF his positions there before he has
an opportunity to meet frontal at
tacks along the western side of the
forest 1t would seem that the ad-
vance between Normal forest and Val
enciennes, has shattered the Ger
mans hope to stand on the defensive
along this section of the line for any !
protracted period.
French forces, fighting their way
eastward through the German trench
es along the Oise-Serre front, have
moved forward at three points. Op-
posite Longchamps, they have crossed
the Disc canal, a barrier which has
held them up for several days, and. fur
ther south, have advanced near Orig !
ny-St. ..Benoite. Just around the bend
in the line, they have cut a deep |
notch in the German lines north of
Villers-Le Seq. These successes are
on a front which is quite important to
the enemy in the line, which tend to |
hasten the German retirment, from |
the bend in the line, which remained |
after the evacuation of Laon, was car
Iied ont.
American Front Advanced.
The American divisions, which are
engaged in the tremendous task of |
tearing away the kriemhilde line, be-
tween the Argonne forest and the |
Meuse, have once more advanced their |
front, especially near the western end |
of the sector. There. in spite of des
perate German resistance and re-
peated counter attacks, they have
moved ahead during the past day and
appear to threaten the rest of the Ger.
man defense system to the east. Near
Bantheville, the Americans have
gained important tactical advantage.
East OF the Meuse, the Germans have
been forced back more than half a
mile on a front of nearly mile and a
half.
There are indications that activity
along the Italian front which has been
at low ebb since the final repulse
of the Austrian offensive. has revived.
Vienna reports violent artillery fire
between the Brenta and Piave rivers
and in the Montello sector This is
the part of the line from which an
Italian attack in force might be ex- !,
peced and interesting events may de-
velop at any time there.