Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-11-03

OAAAS NSA SsA AAAASA AS~AAA
soldiers, who were in ac-
ton along the Rhine and
Marne canal.
The report did not state the number
Of men taken and while reference to
the prisoners being United statss col.
diers 10 carefully guarded, Il 10 BE-
lieved the capture was Of some Sam.
mics who ventured too far from their
trenches.
French Beat Germans Back.
London, Nov. 3.-The retreat Of the
Germans from points along the Chem.
in des Danes in France was forced by
the recent successful offensive of
General Petain's troops In that sec
tor military men here today declared.
This withdrawal on the part Of the
Germans is believed by many to be Q
prelude to the fall of Laon and La
Fere. The Germans have clung des.
perately to the Chemin des Danes,
which is the road over a ridge domin-
ating both the Aisne and Ailette val
leys, ever since 1914, when they were
first hurled back In their march on
Paris. Possession Of this ridge is ex-
pected to give the French control over
the biggest part of this territory.
The military expert Of the Daily
News predicts today that the Ger.
mans will form new line on the
heights north of the Ailette. He de.
clares that these heights constitute
the real defense Of Laon and that the
Germans can be expeeted to Offer I
stiff resistance there.
There was great rejoicing here TO-
day over the German retirement,
which was first announced In the Ger
man official statement issued last
night. A few critics sought to re.
gard 1t as connected with plan to
send more troops to the Italian front.
Experts pointed out that this could
not be the case, because It was the
natural result Of the heavy pounding
OF the French army against the Ger.
man line in that sector 1t was point.
ed out at the time Of the French often.
sive in the Aisne sector a week ago
that their victories had made the Ger.
man positions along the Chemin des
Danes untenable
Sink German Cruiser.
London, Nov. 3.--The admiralty an.
nounced today that German auxil.
iary cruiser and ten German patrol
vessels had been sunk off the Cate.
gat, an arm of the North Sea, In Dan.
ish waters.
The admiralty announcement said
there were no British losses The
admiralty later announced that Brit
ish warships are bringing prisoners
taken in the engagement to this coun'
try.
Italians Ready for Germans.
Rome, Nov. 3.--General Cadornas q
army is now fully prepared to meet
the onslaught OF the combined Ger
mand and Austro Hungarian forces
according to advices received today
from the Italian front
The Italian fortifcations along the
: west bank Of the Tagliamento riyel
from the Felia valley to the Adriatit
Sea with ouy the swollen stream sep
; Grating them from the enemy.
Military authorities are warm II
their praise of the exceptionally clev
er retreat by General Cadorna. whit
; they now believe, will be fully abl'
: to stand of the certain attack which
is expected momentarily.
This belief is strengthened by tn,
receipt of news from the Venetian
plains which give every evidence 0
4 the near approach of reinforcement
from the British and French. Their
+. can be little doubt now OF the ute
: failure of the Austro.G German plan Il
~ cut the Italian forces in two. II
- fully believed here that General Ca
>, :, dornas has succeeded In so placin
" his troops that he will be able to SUE
cessiully combat attacks from tw
sources,
% Coming down thru the Carnic Alp
49, from the north. the Won Below force
=. :, are almost certain to strike at th
" bend of the Tagliamento river
From the south end OF the line q
:, most due west of Udine. the Mackel
=, sen forces are ready to strike.
~ ~ Reciprocal artillery firing fror
~. " over the Tagliamento river has bee
>" reported The dispatch received her
:. says that enemy patrols have u
" yanced to the bank OF the river. hu
~ =" were repused by machine gun fire.
W Desultory firing also was reporte
from the enemy forces stationed
the northern bend OF the river, but a
"' cording to today's dispatches thsr
were no events Of Importance.