Arizona republican., 1918-10-23
RETREAT SUMMARY
 INDICATES WEAKER
 GERMAN POSITIONS
Republican A. p. Leased Wire]

WASHINGTON, Oct 22.-Now that the Germans have been cleared out of Belgium Flanders and northern France army officials here are watching the battle front intently, many of them with a distant feeling that a new storm of attack may be about to break against the enemy. There was nothing tonight to lndl- cate that this expectancy was found- ed upon definite information and it probably grows out of a number of happenings of minor character in themselves, but possibly important links in chain of events soon to be disclosed.
 Beyond doubt the German retirement in Belgium has slowed down. How ever, it is not yet clear whether this is due to the fact that thesretreating forces are nearing, on the whole north ern front, the line which frequently has been selected by military critics as the first pausing place on the way to the Mouse or the border or to the necessities of extending allied com munication lines as the troops ad vance. It is probable, officers said, that there is necessity for a breathing spell on both sides.
 Germans Headed For Mouse There is little doubt here that the German army is headed for nothing short of the Mouse line and that any pause will be but temporary, to per init readjustment of the columns and supply lines, in order that the same orderly sequence of movements shall | characterize subsequent retirements. | hal of ha Cfn he, expected, it was said, as the withdraw al project is carried out. The fact that the allied armies are hampered by extending communication lines, give opportunity for such halts. be- fore Marshal Foch's forces can come up in sufficient force to compel a re- sumption of the rearward movement. The line surrounded by the enemy, from Lille northward to the coast, it was pointed out, was far stronger and no longer than that he now stands upon in Belgium. In addition, by the evacuation of the Flanders coast. he has furnished the allies with means | Of setting up new and more direct communication lines from England to Ostend, Zeebrugge or other Flanders points. Without question, it is these avenues of supplying the advancing armies that already are being opened to free the longer lines back into France of that burden. and conse- quently officers cannot see any tacti- cal advantage gained by the enemy unless he intends to fall back at least to the line of the Mouse.
 Complete First Retreat Stage | The first stage of the great retreat is almost complete. The German right flank has been swung back like gate all the way from Solesmes, south of Valenciennes, to the Dutch border. South of the pivot, however, there has been little change on the front from the Disc to the Mouse. It has been
 noted that heavy concentration of forces was made by the Germans on the Le Cateau- Disc -Serre front and
 also against the American pressure northwest of Verdun. Without ques- tion the retention of these lines, un- broken, was vital to the German plan of action. Now that the withdrawal
 in the north has progressed so fully,
 however, it would cause no surprise
 here if ,a retirement between the Disc and the Serre, were undertaken with out delay, to rectify the whole line
 To many officers it seems possible l . that great drive may sooh be under
 taken, calculated to upset the whole
 German plan of retirement. Already
 the allied lines have been shortened SC
 that considerable forces must be avail
 able for the work. particularly British
 The time cannot be far away. also :; when the American second army, un. der Major General Bullard, will be pu into play.
 American Armies to Attack
 To some observers, it seems possbl, z that wide attack may be made by : the two American armies, both eas |, and west of the Mouse, the thrust be s ing aimed at the great rail artery pass . ing through Sedan and Montmedy. 4 = cooperating French assault west o . the Argonne would naturally be {, F part of such a thrust. To other of ficers. however, recent French raidln.
 operations in Alsace seem to have sig
 nificance. Apparently information i r desired as to the German strength ol n that front and as to the character an, e quality of the troops there. Such raid s invariably precede offensive opera tions, although rarely disclose by thei