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Show II DEFENSE IS SWEPT ASIDE Allied Dash , to Dutch Border Not Checked Despite Strenuous Re-sistance; Re-sistance; - Near Ghent By Asesclated Press. BRITISH troops, in smashing through the formidable German Ger-man positions along the Selle river, north of Le Cateau, captured cap-tured more than 3000 prisoners. Tha 0rmanf wara forced from posl-tlona posl-tlona of groat natural ptrangth en a wide front and the British galna ware maintained notwithstanding enemy counter attacka. The Brltlah now hold the heights between the Helle -and Harnlas rlveraajid . ara in ft. position to outflank the Mormal for- Ieet and cut the railroad between Vslenrlennes and Avesnea. Further north the allied forces continue con-tinue their progress through Belgium and French Flanders -from Denaln to the Dutch frontier. On the north the Belgians are approaching Ghent while in tho center the British are marching on the Scheldt river and outflanking Tournal, an Important railway junction. junc-tion. Both towns have boon made useless to tho Germans, j BRITISH AND YANKS. British and American troops are fighting their way ahead along a ten-mile ten-mile front eaat of Le Cateau. During the past day they have advanced a mile on thla line and appear to have reached a point from which they seriously se-riously threaten the railroad running through Avesnea and Berlalmont Thla road Is tho principal avenue of communication com-munication between the German armies north and south of the wedge driven Into their lineo by tho alllea. If It Is cut or If It Is taken tinder artillery fire, the enemy will be seriously embarrassed em-barrassed In keeping the two wings of his army In touchwilh each other. ADVANCE DESPITE WEATHER. The bad weather that haa prevailed In Franca during the paat few daya haa not checked the advance of the French along the Olae and Berre rivers, where aucceaaea are reported on the eoUthern aide of the Lye aallent, tha French have cut a deep notch Inte the German lines by reaching the heights to the west of Orand Lup. Through the Champagne sector there haa been no change In the line, but juat weet of the Argunne forest tha French have moved ahead once more. They have reached the outskirts of Terron-sur-Alane) north of Vousl.res. This seems to be a stroke at La Chesne, north of the Argonne foreat. YANKS STRONGLY OPPOSED. ' The village of Le Chesne Is an important im-portant highway eentar ana is en A railroad which runs toward Buaancy. behind tha front, where tne uermana are striving to stop the American drive on the line from the Argonne to the Meuae. The American forcea are apparently meeting with desperate realatance along tha front weat of the Meuaa. Thla front la eo Important to the enemy ene-my that he la making a great effort to hold It firmly. He apparently has succeeded for the time being at leaat in hoidlng up the Americans. |