100 years ago: 1918

In the face of stubborn resistance, American forces today cleaned up Bois do Foret, just west of Brieulles, France, capturing 75 prisoners, many of them machine gunners. The fight for Bois de Foret began a week ago and has been one of the most stubborn since the beginning of the Meuse-Argonne offensive. At times the Americans fell back under terrific pressure and then rushed forward with all their might. On Monday they reached the line and completed their task. Among the prisoners were several officers. The enemy clung to the wood with tenacity owing to the fact that the cleaning-up of this place endangers the commanding positions of the Germans to the north.

50 years ago: 1968

The United States returned 14 North Vietnamese naval war prisoners to enemy shores Monday during a 36-hour cease-fire. It was the first truce of the war to be negotiated directly by U.S. and North Vietnamese diplomats. Saigon and American and North Vietnamese envoys had negotiated it in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Air strikes nearby continued, however, and the U.S. Command announced that allied ground forces had seized more than 300 tons of enemy ammunition and food stockpiles during September, suggesting that this may be a reason for the promised lull in ground fighting.

25 years ago: 1993

AUBURN — Christopher Cross will be the featured speaker when the Androscoggin Historical Society meets Tuesday on the top floor of the county building at 1:30 pm. Cross, a consultant for the city of Lewiston, will speak on the topic “A Retrospective of the Lewiston Mills and Canals from 1850-1950.”

The material used in Looking Back is reproduced exactly as it originally appeared, although misspelling and errors may be corrected.