HEAVY FIGHTING ON 50-MILE FRONT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 25, 24 October 1918, Page 7

HEAVY FIGHTING ON 50-MILE FRONT

BRITISH ENTER VALENCIENNES

AMERICANS AGAIN ADVANCING

London,' October 22. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: "Our troops are engaged in heavy fighting on the wliolo front from north-east of Cqnrtrai to south-east of Lc Cuteau, a length of more than fifty miles. The enemy is making a desperate effort to hold the line of tho Scheldt south from Ghent; covering Tournai and Valenciennes, but we aro getting closer to tho cnnal overywhore, and iiro beyond it between Denain and Lo C'atenu. Eastward of Courtrai tho Second Army's advance was resumed this morninu', steadily pushing towards the Scheldt Canal, and taking many littlo Flemish villages still inhabited by civilians, crouching in ,tlie cellars. 1 visited Courtrni this morning, but it was not a wholly joyous entry, like at Lillo and Bruges. There aro thirty thousand people in Courtrai, but they have BiilFcvcd too much. They are like people long stunned by misery. The Germans were unable- to carry off the cloth-weaving machinery, and broko it in bits with hammers. The last 'Commandant at Courtrai was Richtoven, father of tho famous airman. The city is now being shelled, compelling the people to return to tho cellars."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

BRITISH ENTER VALENCIENNES

(Rso. October 21, 0.35 a.m.)

Vancouver, October 22. Tho British have entered the western part of Valencionnesl The Trench have captured Chalandry and Grandlup.—Keuter.

HEAVY FIGHTING IN FLANDERS,

(Eec. October 24, 1.35 a.m.) London, October 22. Beuter's correspondent nt British Headquarters writes on October 22-.—"This morning strong French forces serving with iha Belgian Army attacked northward of the British Second Army towards Ghent, making excellent progress. The British First Army captured Thaint yesterday morning, but a strong coun-ter-atack caused us to withdraw from a portion of the village eastward of Exca'llion,River. The weather is good."—Eeuter.