Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-10-19
(By Associated Press


France continue successfully to
drive the enemy before them. In
Belgian Flanders the advance Is
somewhat rapid. but on all the sec
tors in France the Germans are
fighting with desperation to hold
back their foes.
The great wedge that is being
driven by the Belgian. British and
Fcrnch troops in Flanders now
threatens seriously the tenure by
the enemy of many positions in
North Belgium from the Lys River
to the sea, including his submarine
and other bases along the coast,
while TO the south the Lille salient
gradually is being enmeshcd, and
doubtless soon will receive attention
oiled for the task OF retaining this
important tract of territory Us far rs
Nalcncicnncs for France.
Meanwhile, the French and Amer
lean forces are struggling valiantly
forward in their drive northward
from the Champagne region in tho
country ever which the Germans
must effect Il retirement to their
own border in the event of final
dcbaclc. As has been the case al
ways since the offensive began, the
Germans are vigorously defending
their positions, using innumcrablc
machine gun dctachments in cndea-
vors TO hold their ground. particu-
larry vicious are the countcrthrusts
that the Americans are being COM
PEELED TO sustain east and west of
the Mouse, where the entire enemy
front os threatened with immediate
collapse should General Liggct's
men crash through the line for ma
tcrial gains.
Nevertheless. both the Americans
and the French are demanding that
their arms be served and on various
sectors they are meeting with sue
cess. In the Romagnc sector fur
Their gains have been made by the
Americans in face Of terrific artil-
lcry and machine-gun fire, and the
natural dcfcnscs and great systems
of wire cntanglcmontS which had to
be negotiated. Bad weather had fall
len over the sector, and the airmen
have been unable to give their usual
brilliant assistance to the meneuvcrs.
TO the west the French are slow
ly closing in upon Roithcr on their
way to Mezicrcs, being only two
miles distant from the town. West
Of Grand Pro They have affected fur
500 Germans were made prisoner in
this lighting.
-Courtrai Railway Has AL
most Been Won.
In Flanders the British have taxi
on the important. railway center OF
Menin. Thonrout has fallen and
the Thourout-Courtrai railroad has
almost been won. Numerous towns
have been rccapturcd by the allied
forces, and large numbers OF pris-
oncrs have been taken. Many guns
also have fallen into tho hands Of
the allies. The capture of Thourout
completely outtlanks the German
submarine base at Ostcnd and brings
the allied troops within ten miles of
Brugcs. whence the railroad line
runs northward to zeeBrugge, Ger
manys other U-Boat base on the
North Sea.
Reports are to the effect that the
Germans are withdrawing what is
left Of their forces in the north, both
naval and military.
In Albania the Italians have oc-
cupied the Austrian naval base Of
DurazZo, on the Adriatic coast,
while in Serbia the allied forces are
continuing to press the enemy
troops north of Nish.
Large Torpedo Boats Leave During
Night.
Several of Gcrmany's largest tor
pedo boats recently left Zcebruggc,
one OF the German naval bases on
the Belgian coast, during stormy
night, according to Dutch frontier
message, forwarded from Amster-
dam on Monday to the Central News
Agency
The German warships were filled
to their capacity with soldiers, and
proceeded for Germany The Ger
mans also are reported to be eyacu-
ating Ostcnd.
American troops north Of Vcrdun
are operating against strong enemy
positions, and have passed tho towns
of Cunel and Romagne, General Per-
Shlng reported Tuesday, under date
of Monday. The dispatch follows:
This morning American troops
resumed the advance. North OF YER
dun they arc now operating against
positions OF greater stragetic value
and natural strength. Today VIC
passed beyond the towns of Cuncl
and Romagne. We have patrols in
the s-de-Banthebillc, and our at
lacking line has penetrated the ro-
sitions Of st. Georges and Landrs- ct
st. Georges. About $50 prisoners
have been reported"
Tanks were brought into action
by the Aemricans Tuesday to break
way through the enemy wire en-
tanglements west of Romagne, ac-
cording to dispatches from the army
northwest Of Vcrduun.
Despite German resistance, the
progress of the Americans, early re-
ports said, was satisfactory today.
The Germans were apparently
ready to contest the ground as stub
ornly as they did Monday. The enemy
artillery was being used freely to
hold the Americans, but the Yankee
gunners were doing much good work