The sun., 1917-09-05
GERMANS BEGIN
BIG RETREAT IN
WEST FLANDERS
Quitting 200 Square Miles
Fronting British From
ThOurOut to COurtrai.
I
GUNS WORE DOWN LINE
New Allied Drive Predicted: !:
Canadians Dash Nearer
Lens; French Gain.

LONDON. Sept 4--The Germans are
evacuating western Flanders and retiring
on new line running from Thourout to
Courtrai, according to dispatches from
Haxebrouck. Just south OF that region,
to the Havss agency In Paris. Thourout
east Of Dfxmade and Courtrai IL about
sixteen miles east Of Ypres. 50 that the
now line would be twelve or thirteen
miles east Of the present battlefront
Many refugees are being cared for at
Ghent and large numbers Of them are
arriving from Roulers. northeast OF
Ypres, from which the banks and ar
chives were removed about two weeks
ago. The place Is under heavy and
continuous bombardment By the British.
The people Of Courtrai were told by
the German military officials to leave
| IL they wished TO and most Of them have
| gone. Large numbers Of refugees from
| northern France and Flanders are going
| to Lmburs.
German Line Too Thin.
The German line has become 80 thin
! in places that efforts to shorten II.
! thereby effecting concentration OF men,
! have been expected here for some time.
| The area freed OF Germans by this new
! strategic retiremsnt,' II the report
( should prove true, would be more than
I 200 square miles, all Of 1t facing the
British front in Flanders. Amsterdam
! reports to-day that DIR. Ge0rg Nichaelir.
! Imperial Chancellor Of Germany, has
returned to Berlin, after 4 trip OF ave
| days to Belgium and the western front:
, this visit may have some connection
| with the reported retirement from that
| region.
Berlin reports that artillery activity
ir Flanders. on the coast and between
Langemarck and Warneton 'on the
Lya) increased to great intensity and
that "the artillery duel before verdun
assumed srea, intensity during the eve
ming" >it was in similar terms that the
last allied Offensive was predicted by
the Germans.
The Reuter- correspondent Al British
headquarters in France sends the fol-
lowing:
About midnight the Canadians again
nit in upon the outer shell OF Lens. Ir
brilliant moonlight raid!nE party went
over from our front. opposite Cite Sainis
Elizabeth. While the enemy was busy
dealing with this inoursion another
party moved out further 10 the south
and along q front Of about 500 yards
| succeeded in establishing their posts 25t
Yards forward Of their front line. A
few prisoners OF the Second Pruss.ar
Guard Reserve Regiment were brought
back.
Lens Seems Doomed.
'"To the north Of Lens there is nov
in some places less than 500 yards oper
ground between the Canadian position,
and the buildings Of the city proper"
German attacks near Hurtetlse II
.he .Aisne region and east Of the Meus'
in the verdun sector were stopped by
French artillery hre.
In the Cha npaEne the French deliv
cred a surprise attack along the roadway
between Souain and somme-Py. Thu
poilus. who had been instructed to de
stroy certain gas Installations. brok'
through the German trenches on a from
of half a mile TO the entire depth Of thu
first position. destroyed numerous ga
tanks. blew up shelters and returned Il
their own lines with some prisoners.
French official Report.
The French Official report says:
The vicinity Of Calais and Dunkirk
; was visited last night by German avia-
tors, who threw down bombs. Gala Ia
reported that several persons were
either killed or wounded. In the en-
| virons OF Luneville and in the country
70 the north Of Nancy there were also
Visits from enemy airpisnes. The
material damage was insignificant,
and no one was hurt,
. French bombing airplsnes covered
: with their proJectiles the aviation field
and various barracks and railroad sta
tons in the enemy zone to the north
OF Soissons,
: Another French air expedition was
l successful in starting two fires in The
7 railroad station at Fresnoy-le-Cirande.
Furthermore French machines bombed
the railroad stations at Roulers and
Lichtervelde. in Belgium; aviation
. fields at Colmar. Frescati and Hab-
3 sheim. and the railroad stations a,
\ CONTAINS. Cambria. Thionville. Metz
. and Woippy. where a violent outbreak
: Of flames was observed. During the
, course Of these various expeditions
1900 kiloe $4,000 pounds) Of pro-
8 jectiles were thrown down by ou,
l. sQuadrons upon locations OF the enc
: my. which suffered heavy damages
. During the day Of September :
q French pursuit airplanes brought dowr
= thirteen German machines. mos, o.
. which were completely destroyed.
. German Operations.
The German Official statement on a
operations says
!, During the night OF sunday our air
= men dropped bombs on Calais and Dun
kirk. Fires which resulted wer,
!. visible throughout the entire day
!. iMondayY)
. Yesterday Dover and last nigh
q Chatham. Sheerness and Ramsga t,
). were attacked with bombs by ou
'. Airplanes.
Yesterday nineteen enemy airmel
, and two captive balloons were sho
!; down. Baron Won Richthofen achieved
:. his sixty-hrst aerial victory. Lieut.
Muller. who recently was promoted
from the rank Of Vice-SerGeant on &C
count of his services. brought dow
his twenty-sevsnth machine.