The Washington herald., 1918-10-12
GREA T RETREAT SPREADS Non tn
UNDER FOCH'S UNCEASLNG BLOWS;
ALLIES OF GERMANY FACE CRISIS
100000 ARE
NOW OVERSEAS
Gen. March Says Vigorous
Military Program
Continues.

The whole German army, disorgan-
lied and shaken from wings to cen
ter. with graphic details Of the en-
emys disasters. was the subject of
Gen. March's review yesterday Of
the operations on the Western front.
Gen. March announced that more
than 100000 men OF the American
Expediuonary Force were now in
France and that the first courier
with the names of 1900 slight cas-
ualties had arrived in Washington.
The names are to be given out later.
In his description OF the fighting
on the Western front and its pur-
pose Gen. March, who has recently
been in conference with President
Wilson. made it particularly plain
that the program is to utilize all
resources of men and money to COM
plete the final victory. Gen. March
said:
Review of Operations.
The new drive on the Cambrai-
st. Quentin sector has made rand
progress. On the first day the Brit
ish and American forces advanced an
average distance of three miles and
reached positions on the open ground
well beyond the Hindenburg line. On
Wednesday the drive continued and
broadened until ii occupied a width
of thirty-flve miles from the Escaut
to the Disc. and at its deepest point,
toward lie Cateau, gained six miles.
The French, extending their sector
northward. carried the south third OF
the advance. On Thursday the Brit
ish entered lie Cateau. having carried
the point OF the drive fourteen miles
in three days-more than they gained
in any three consecutive days since
they first started their drive east of
Amiens in August The enemy's re-
sistance temporarily at least was
badly shaken and disorganized- At
lie Cateau the British are only four
teen miles from Aulnoye.- This town
is very important strategical point.
1t is the junction of the main railroad
which have spoken about before
running from Balenciennes through to
Metz and the other great northern
artery called the Liege-Maubeuge
railway. These two roads join at this
point. An advance Of about nine
miles in this direction will put that
junction under gunfire, and it is a
point Of vital Importance.
French and American forces attacked
east Of the Meuse, and advanced one
and one-half miles on a front of four
miles, clearing the right flank of the
main American advance. Here, as at
lie Cateau, an advance of ten miles
would sever the observation-disclosures
railroad. The largest bombing expe-
dition Of the war. as reported in yes
terday mornings papers, took pi<ce
Wednesday in this sector when thirty
two tons of bombs were dropped on
the cantonments near Damyillers."
DouaI Il Threatened.
Gen. March also pointed out that
the British advancing along the Es-
caut in the north are only twelve
miles from Valenciennes, thus threat
ening the communications of Douat.
In the attacks east OF the Meuse
on Tuesday and Wednesday the Brit
ish went forward one and a half
miles. clearing the right flank OF
the American advance" This move
threatens the Metz-Valenciennes Rail-
road. 1t was in this sector, he said,
that the heaviest bombing expedition
of the war took place on Wednesday.
when thirty-two tons OF bombs were
dropped on the German cantonments
at Damvillers.
In the American sector" between
the Argonne and the Meuse. there
has been stiff fighting which wiped
out the pocket south of the Grand
Pre- gap.
All of these operations Gen. March
summarized as being actions to keep
the "nnemy's reduced forces contin-
ually in action"
On the remote battle fronts, Gen.
March announced, the British have
CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO.