Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-10-21
British Smash Thru I'm
portant Positions Toward
Valenciennes.
ARMIES IN DANGER
OF BEEING SPLIT
Wedge Being Driven by British May
Cut on Forces Being Pursued BY
Allied Forces Farther North-6el-
sisns Approaching Ghsnt While
( British Are Driving to Cut asDroad
Lines OF Communication.
fsy the Associated Press.l ]

10y SnS SBSoCtOSOu F'SoosJ
British troops in smashing thru
che formidabie German positions
along the SelIe river, near lie
cateau, captured more than 5000
prisoners.
The Germans were forced from
positions Of great natural strength
on . wide front and the British
gains were maintained notWith-
sssnding sremy attacks. y
The oritish now hold the heights
between the Selle and Harpics
rivers and are in a position to out
flank the Normal forest and cut
the railroad between valeneiennes
and Avssnss.
Farther north the allied forces
continue their progress thru Bel
GUM and French Flanders and De-
main to the Dutch frontier.
On the north eelgians are ap-
proaehinS Ghent while in the cen
ter the British are marching on
the oehsldt river and outHankins
Journal, an important railway
iunetion, which towns have besn
made useless 10 the Germans.
II spits of the German attempt
10 check THAR advance, the Bel
qians, the British and the FrsHrhos
continue their sweeping march
from Teurnai to the Dutch seor-
tier. N
Official reports show they have
reached points within ten miles OF
Client. The eelgians are along the
Deyse- Esefoo canal, which runs
northward from the Lys river.
Farther south they have crossed
the river at various points.
Along the lys the British have
moved swiftly toward the sheldt
river and are At Pecq, on the west
hank Of the river.
In this sector Of the battle line
the allies are moving toward the
southeast and Il seems they will be
able to reach Ghsnt with their
main forces in ., very short time.
The Germans have flooded some
Of the country but this has failed
to interfere with the progress Of
the armies commanded by King
Albert.
British and American troops are
fighting their way ahead on ten.
mile front east Of Le csteau. Dur
ina the past day they have ad-
vancsd mile on this line and ap-
pear 70 have reached . point from
which they threaten the railroad
running thru vaneens and 8srIai.
mont.
This road is the principal avenue
OF communication between the
German ssmies north and south Of
the wsdge being driven into their
lines BY the allies. " Il 10 dut or
If IL 10 taken under artillery fire
the enemy will be embarrassed in
keeping the two wings Of his army
in touch with each other.
The bad weather Of the past few
days has not checked the advance
Of the F.sneh along the Disc and
Serrs rivers, whore successes are
reported. On the southern side Of
the Lys salient the French have
cut ! dssp Notch into the German
lines by reaching the hsishts to
tha west Of crandlup.
Thru the Champagne sector
there has. been no change in the
iins, but just west Of the Arsonns
forest the French hsvs moved
ahsad once more. They have
reached the outskirts Of the VIII
Iase Of Theron sur. Aisns, north
Of veuxiercs. This seems 10 bs .
stroke 1t Lechssne, to the north
east OF the Arsonns forest.
The village of - chssns 10 an
important highway center and 10 on
! railroad which runs toward eu-
zancy behind the front whore the
Germans are striving to stop the
American drive on the line from
the Araonns 10 the Meuss. " La
chesns should bs occupied by the
French the event would bs almost
certain TO bring about . German
withdrawal east Of the forest.
Paris. Oct. 21.-The allied force.
hile pushing farther into central Bel
um on the north, are lighting thei
ay forward on the south toward tn,
elgian border sonth OF valenciennea
unday the allied troops had to hgh
'e elements as well as THE Germans
ain fell continually and the soldier,
ere soaked and partly blinded, whiI'
rplanes were Of little use.
With Spirit undampened. however