The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-16
$4,000 Prisoners Reported in
Flanders Offensive.
Allied Forces Sweeping Ahead
Over Belgian Land.
MENIN and WERvICQ FALL
ThOurOut Taken TOday-COurs
trai About to Fall.
French Progress North of Sis
some in q Drive.


London. Oct. 16 (6 D.. m.).-
The Belgian city of Thourout
has been captured by the allied
forces in their Flanders offen-
sive. The fall of Courtrai is
imminent.
Paris Oct. 16.-British patrols en-
tered the southwestern suburbs of
Lille this morning.
French forces captured the village
of Acy-Romance, within a mile of the
important railway junction of Rethel
in the Champagne, the war office an
nounced today.
Ready for Mines.
Paris, Oct. 16.-When allied troops
entered ST. Quentin they found that
every pillar in the cathedral there
had been excavated at the level of the
ground preparatory to placing explo-
sives under them, according to the
Liberte. The rapidity of the allied
advance had prevented the Germans
from carrying out their plans to de-
stroy the edifice.
Progress Near Sissonc.
Paris, Oct. 16.-The French made
some further progress to the north of
Sissone, while between Sissone and
Rethel they repulsed a violent enemy
counter attack near st. Germainmont.
Threaten Right Wing.
The German extreme right wing is
being threatened more and more as
the allied wedge in Flanders is driven
deeper. The enemy resistance seems
to be slackening in Flanders and it is
believed important results may be
seen within a few rays.
Already the advance of the allies is
from two and one-half to five miles
on a thirty-mile front. On the right
the British hold Menin and Wervicq
and have Courtrai almost within their
grasp. The evacuation of the great
Industrial centers of Lille, Roubaix
and Tourcoing seems inevitable as the
result of this gain. On the left the
Belgians are approaching Thourout.
only twelve miles from Bruges. and
within twenty miles of the Dutch
frontier. There are signs that the
Germans realize the days of their oc-
cupation of Belgium are numbered.
They already have begun the work of
destruction in Belgium. according to
information reaching Paris. the Ger
mans are preparing to get out of
Bruges and Ghent, and even Brussels.
Near to Thielt.
British Army Headquarters in F1an-
ders, Oct. 16.-Belgian cavalry this
morning was reported to be within a
mile of the important railway center
of Thielt. That town is only about
| fifteen miles southwest of Client.
| London, Oct. 16.-In Flanders the
allies took 10000 prisoners and be-
tween 200 and 800 guns in Tuesdays
! fighting. the Express declared today.
The prisoners were equally divided
among the Belgians, British and
French. The British took fifty guns.
| By the Associated Press)
| Sweeping steadily ahead over the
! lowlands of Belgian Flanders, the
British. French and Belgian armies
are rapidly bearing away the extreme
right flank of the German battle line.
Twelve thousand prisoners have been
| captured in two days. according to Of
ficial statements. This would seem to
| indicate victory of great importance.
even if the ground gained was not OF
f! the utmost Importance in the devel-
opment of the mighty allied offensive.
Cross the Lys.
/ Allied forces have captured Menin
and Wervicq and are across the Lya
river in the neighborhood of the lat
ter town. There are unofficial re.
ports that Thourout has been taken
/ and it is confirmed that the British
are within mile Of Courtrai. This
completely OutflankS Lille from the
north and the Germans will probably
be forced out of that city in a very
short time. The allies are now about
eleven miles from Bruges and twenty
five miles from Ghent They have
advanced in the neighborhood of sew
en- miles since Monday morning.
j, Fighting their way thru maze OF
barbed wire defenses and over tan
gled lines of trenches the Americans
west of the Meuse river are slowly but
surely cutting thier way thru the
Kriemhild line. They have carried
Hill 299. a height which dominated
much of the country west of Romagns
and have penetrated the second line OF
defense in the vicinity of Landres- Et-
st. Georges.
Effort to Hold Line.
i The battle in this area has been OF
a most savage nature and the Ger
mans are making every effort to hold
their positions. They understand the
critical situation which has developed
there and are pouring fresh troops
into the struggle in the hope that tho
American onslaught may be STAYED be:
! CONTINUED on Page Two.)