The Topeka state journal., 1918-10-24
HAMMER DEFENSE.

= Continued from Page One,
will, and desired more than anything
else to fight the emperor's forces.
Occupy the Forest.
London. Oct. 24.-The Raismes for
est. north of Valenciennes.. has been
occupied by the british. North of the
forest the British have captured the
villages Of Theirs, Haute, Rive and
Thun. .--.s-
French Take Prisoners.
- Rome. Oct. -24-French forces to-
ing more than 700 prisoners. the Ital-
ian official statement Gays.
London, Oct. 24.-The British have
crossed the Ecaillon river and have
captured the villa ges of Neuyille,
Saiesehes. and Beaudignies. A Ger
man counter attack Fate Wednesday
was repulsed., p 50
This. morning the attack was re-
stunned all along the front between
Sambre-e canal and the Scheldt.
French Across Canal
Paris, Oct. 24.-Southeast of lie
Cateauz French troops have crossed
the Sambre canal east Of Grand Verly,
says the war office statement today.
The French maintained their gains
east of the canal in spite OF strong
German counter attacks.
Americans Hold Heights.
East of the Arsonne. however,
American forces have worked their
way further into the enemy's trenches
and have compelled the Germans to
abandon Brieulles on the west bank of
the Meuse. and just south of Dun.
They are also fighting to the north of
Bantheville and hold a strong series
of heights which appear to dominate
much of the ground in the center of
the line.
Near Grand Pre-, the Germans,
evidently realizing that further prog
ress by the Americans Is dangerous.
have been counter attacking furiousIy.
They have gained no ground. and have
lost heavily In killed and wounded.
Renew Attack Today.
London, Oct. 24.-The attack was
resumed this morning on the whole
front between the Sambre-Oise canal
and the, Scheldt, Field Marshal Haig
announced.
Continuing their progress on this
,, front Wednesday evening, British
troops crossed the Ecaillon river less
than two miles west of lie Quesnoy,
capturing the village Of Beaudign;es.
The villages of Neuville and Salesches
also were occupied
A strong German counter attack op-
posite Vendigies was repulsed.
See Saw Tactics.
With the allied armies in France
and Belgium, Oct. 24.-In brilliant
moonlight. assisted by roaring flochs
of night bombing airplanes the Brit
ish fought thruout the night and
made steady gains. They are using
see-saw tactics and not any time since
the new battle began has the whole
line attacked all the series of oDjec-
tives at the same time. Guns are NOV
ed up in relays SO that there is con-
stantly heavy fire on the German
front and rear. Infantry assaults are
end of the line and then another sec
ton some distance away Is sent
smashing into the enemy.
The tactics bewildered the Germans.
No enemy unit knows where an as
sault is coming and all are forced to
steel, high explosives, shrapne1 and
gas. A concentration at PreuX for a
counter attack was observed from the
air. Transports. ammunition trains
and masses of men became mixed up
on the roads in the vicinity. When
large and the enemy traffic appeared
to be in the greatest state of confu-
sion, the British gunners opened up
| their weapons and pumped in steel as
| rapidly as possible. Within a few min
utes the ground was strewn with dead
men and horses, equipment wagons,
| lorries and limbers. Reports just re-
ceived from sone section of, the front
| tell of fierce fighting at several places.
| They particularly mention Pomereui1,
| where the British were hell un 20" =
| time by a murderous fire from a
heavy concentration of German ma
chine guns. @
The British waited for a time un-
/ tiL the advance had progressed north
| and south of them. Then they swept
/ around the town on both sides A,
| the rear they found a Triangular
cleared space in which the German
machine gunners retreated to pre-
pared positions. The British wen
around them and captured Pomereui