Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1918 — HAND TO HAND FIGHTING PUTS. YANKEES AHEAD [ARTICLE]

HAND TO HAND FIGHTING PUTS. YANKEES AHEAD

American Troops Go Into the Hindenburg Line to Slay the Foe. BRITISH CRUSH FNEMY LINES Belgians Continue to Advance as the Hun Is Beaten Back in Flanders—• French Push Through Germans’ Fortified Zone. With the American Army on the St. Quentin Sector, Oct. 1. —-The Americans on this front have been engaged in heavy fighting throughout the day. There was much hand-to-hand fighting and large numbers of Germans have been killed by grenades and bombs dropped into their deep dugouts of the Hindenburg system. The Americans found it necessary to clear up portions of the Hindenburg line through which they smashed their way. They advanced so quickly in their operation that many Germans were left in the dugouts and some of these proved a serious menace. French Take Road. London, Oct. I.—Half of the Chemln des Dames, from which the enemy is retiring, has been captured by the French.

British Advance. London, Oct. I.—The British troops in the St. Quentin-Canibrai sector continued to advance despite heavy resistance. according to Field Marshal Haig’s report from British headquarters. Among other villages they captured Thorigny, Le Tronquoy and Gonnelieu, taking many prisoners. Field Marshal Haig’s forces smashed the Hindenburg line on a front of eight miles to a maximum depth of three miles. The British attack was made just north of St, Quentin. St. Quentin, one of the strongholds of the Hindenburg line, is being flanked. —Fighting is going on in CambVai. The northeastern!, western and southwestern have been captured, and the town probably will be cleared up shortly. The Bri.tlsh_are in no harry to clear Up the situation in Cambrai. however. The German communications there have been ruined and they cannot ■ bring in help or take away much material. Both railroads and highways are under such an intense fire that it is impossible for the enemy to get men in or out. New Gains in Flanders. In Flanders the British and Belgian hrmles have advanced for an average depth of five ini les and a maximum depth of eight miles. A dispatch from the battle front says ' Routers, 13 miles northeast of Ypres, l as been captured by the Belgians. . The Joss of this town is a severe blow to the enemy, as it is the center of communications not only with the German armies in Flanders but with the German submarine bases on the coast. British troops have captured Gheluwe and are now about two miles outside of the Belgian railroad junction of Menin,

French Continue Advance. Baris, Oct. I—General Gouraud's French army has crossed the" German fortified zone between Suippe and the Aire river over a front of ten' kilometers (more than six miles) and is now entering upon open ground, where an opportunity for decisive maneuvering is offered to the attackers. The French were only' two miles from the important rail junction of Challerange. They are marching on Monthois (a little less than two miies due west of Challerange).' Take 1,600 Huns. Sixteen hundred prisoners were taken by the French in a new drive between the Aisne and tlie Vesle. the French was offic.e announced. The villages of -Romain, Mortigny-Sur-Vesle, and Revillon were captured. The advance was over a front of seven and a half miles. Between the Aisne and the Aillette the French also made fresh headway, east of Ostel. Italian troops captured Scupir. north of the Aisne. Between the Aisne and the Vesle the French reached the southern edge of Mourival and Ventelay. In the Champagne the Germans were thrown back at Ste. Mari,e-A-Py, after a vain counter-attack. The French passed the village. North of SommePy the French reached the bend of the national road. Further to the east the French captured the Aure plateau and woods northward. , Marvaux was captured and the line was brought up immediately in front of Monthois. Gains also were made north of Sechault and Bougonville.