New-York tribune., 1917-09-05
Germans Clear Out Civil
ians East to Courtrai-
Thourout Line
Canadians Press
Closer to Lens
Crown Prince Makes Futile
Assaults on French at
Several Points

LONDON, Sept A great stretcn
Of Western Flanders is being eVaeu-
ated by the civilian population accord
ing 70 a dispatch to the Havss Agency
from Hazebrouck. From the present
German front east Of Ypres and DIX
nude as far as the line OF Courtrai-
Thourout the people are leaving their
homes and pouring into Ghent and Linn
bourg, these sdvices state. Even the
population Of Courtrai has departed.
The territory being evacuated
amounts 10 nearly 200 square miles and
includes the important city Of Roulers'
which has been under heavy fire from
the British guns for several weeks. fol-
lowing Haig's successes in the 1pres
salient.
The reason for this move is not
given. Il may mean that the German
army is preparing for 8 withdrawal
on a large scale from this threatened
region, where their hold daily becomes
more precarious. IL is probable, how
evdr, that the population is with
drawing to escape from the destruc-
tive ere of the British batteries, which
are finding out most of the positions
far behind the German lines, and also
from the bombs Of British airmen,
who have been carrying out extensive
raids throughout this territory IN the
last few weeks.
The dispatch reads:
western Flanders is being eysc-
uated as far as the line OF Courtrai-
Thourout (this line running TO the
east, respectively, Of Ypres and Dix
mude). IL was learned to-day that
many refugees are being cared for at
Ghent, large numbers Of them arriving
from Roulers northeast of Ypres),
which the English are bombardlng
ceaselessly.
"The population of Courtrai has
been authorized by the German mil
itary officials to leave II they desire
and a majority Of them have departed;
Refugees from Northern France, ana
Flanders are going 10 Llmbourg.
Meanwhile the British troops are
continuing their steady advance along
the Ypres line, and the artillery actlv-
ity has reached a pitch Of great in
tensity, according 70 Berlin's admis-
sion.
The Canadians early this morning
again smashed forward against the
outer she'll OF Lens and carried their
lines along a front Of a third or
mile. about 25O yards nearer the
centre Of the coal city on the north.
A number of prisoners belonging 20
the I'd Prussisn Guard Reserve Regi-
ment were brought back.
While this operation was in progress
another party Of Canadians advanced
eastward for q considerable distance
along the enemy's communication
trenches, according to reports from
Canadian Armv Headquarters. The Ger,
mans are declared TO have been forced
out Of their first line defences into
she'll craters that afford only an un-
stable foothold. Explosions continue
70 be heard in the heart Of the city,
which at some points is separated from
the British lines by only 800 yards.
The Crown Prince continued his at
tacks on the Aisne and at Verdun TO-
day, but with the usual lack OF sue
cess. German shock troops suffered
severe casualties in attempts against
the French lines near the Hurtebise
Farm, Paris declares, while on the
right bank Of the Meuse three German
assaults on minor posts on the edge
Of Caurieres Wood were beaten back.
Petsin's forces meanwhile carried
through successful raids in the Cham
ragne and the Areonne, penetrating
the enemy's lines on front of 500
Yards along the Souain-Somme Ply road
and inficting heavy damages on the
German works there, as we'll as to the
east of Sapigneul.
Aerial operations yesterday and to-
day were carried out on an unusually
large scale, the Germans bombing the
vicinity of Calais and Dunkirk and
The French and British replying with
destructive raids against numerous po-
sitions behind the German lines. Three
French fiers brought down thirteen
hostile machines during the day, while
German aviators are said to have ac-
counted for nineteen planes. Baron Won
Richthofen achieved his sixty-frst
aerial victory, Berlin reports.