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Show I ' I Advance Through Perfect Storm of Machine Gun Fire and Kill Great Numbers. WITH THE ALLIED ARMIES IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM, Oct. 20. (By the Associated Press). 5 n. m. The operation of tho Third British army was characterized by 'most se-vore se-vore fighting for the Germans realized the importance of trying to delay the British here. Regardless of the enemy ene-my resistance, however, the British gained the high ground to the east of :the line from which they were advancing, ad-vancing, against a perfect storm of machine gun bullets fired from advantageous ad-vantageous positions. The machine guns were cleared out with great rapidity ra-pidity and great numbers of Germans were killed. The fighting was especially espe-cially fierce in tho neighborhood of St. Python, where many barricades had been hastily erected. South of Le Cateau the British. and Americans are continuing their successes suc-cesses of the past two days. American Ameri-can artillery in this region has been quite active and many towns including includ-ing Bazuel. have beon hoavilv shollor There, wore civilians In some of'thoso towns, so that their speedy removal was necessary, tho Germans disregarding disregard-ing their presence entirely. Second Army Across the Lys North of Courtral the British second army is across the Lys river at several places and making good progress, while tho First army has crossed the Solle river near Haspres and Saulzoir and continued driving. From in front of Denain this army Is pushing frontally for Valenciennes, a movement which is in co-operation with the third army's attack southward. south-ward. Stripping Country of Everything Obviously the Germans intended to defend the east bank of the Scheldt, for they trenched and wired it. But there are strong Indications that tho enemy has little faith in his ability to hold the line long for all the bridges aro ready for speedy demolition. A few fires are still visible at Tournai and the surrounding country showing 1 tVl.lt tlin ! c 1... : 1. I .. . ...... i. njt mi iuj jo uuilllll; olUl U3. l The Germans are also stripping the! j country of everything imagineable and I are burning what they have been unable un-able to remove. Cattle taken from tho peasants are being driven eastward and the farmers' haystacks havo been burned. In Turcoing, where thero were thousands thou-sands of civilians, scenes occurred similar to those at Lille, tho citizens exhibiting intense joy at their liberation. libera-tion. Removing Cotton Mills The Germans aro plainly showing their intentions by removing and destroying de-stroying machinery of cotton mills and similar industrial works; they apparently appar-ently have, tho Idea of stifling 'French compotition In the future. In tho looting loot-ing of private houses they have displayed dis-played their customary fondness for such things as clocks, silverware, family fam-ily ornaments, ovon crucifixes havo been tnken from tho homes of the poorer class. Tho Germans have carried off virtually vir-tually the entire malo population of the districts which they evacuated, capable 6f doing any work. The cap-lured cap-lured prisoners say that peaco is expected ex-pected any day. German Commandant Hated Tho Gorraans behaved the samo in Ostond as elsewhere. The German commandant who was cordially hated by the civilians, Imposed fines for tho smallest offenses, such as being out of bed after 9 o'clock at night. Twenty -six million francs woro extortod from tho inhabitants in fines and forced levies. During the German occupation all the bathing machines were used for the storage of oxplosivcs and civilians ci-vilians were compelled to work In the submarine repair shops. It ic now established that the dry-dock dry-dock was completely smashed by British Bri-tish bombs and shells on the occasion of the raids. The rusty remains of the gallant Vindictive are visible In exactly the same position as tho vos-scl vos-scl was sunk by the British navy, tho Gormans being unable to movo it. A typical letter of what is happening in Germany is among the captured documents. It was written a few days, ago by a German prjvate to his brother-in-law on the battle front and describes de-scribes a scene at a railway station on the arrival of a troop train frbm Russia. Officers were stoned and Maltreated and attempts were made to f-hoot them beeauso the men were required to entrain for the west front. rr |
