Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-20
KEYSTONES 0FF0E'S.
. NEXT LINE SHAKEN.
Retreat in Full Swing, Ger
mans May Have Trouble
's in Tarrying.
VIEWS OF U. S. OBSERVERS

BY the Associated Press.
The German retreat from Belgium
continued yesterday at rate that in
dictated early arrival of the allied
forces before the first Of the enemy's
series of defense lines.
Reports from the front were OF
scattering character. however. and
furnished officers here with little basis
xer gAuging the immediate strategic
Une unof1clal report placed the
Anglo-American advance patrols in
the western edge OF the forest Of Nor
NAL, between Valenciennes and
Avenes. If this is correct. the first
subsidiary line of the enemy has al
ready been broken.
German Line Reached.
Gen. March referred to this situa-
ton today in his weekly conference,
saying: From LIE Cateau northward
the British have reached, but have not
vet attempted to cross, the German
defense line, which there follows the
east bank of the Selle river up to the
Sensee marshes"
The situation along the front was in
such state of hux. shifting every
hour with the German withdrawal gain
ing in speed, that Gen. March made no
effort to outline the strategic POSSIBLE
ties. He did, however. call attention to
the fact that the pTithdra wal had
banded to cover practically the whole
250-mile front from the coast to the
Meuse.- where Gen. Pershing's forces are
carrying forward the allied right wing.
Cannot larry Long.
II the German commanders are sue
cessful in bringing their great retreat
line. officers here believe that the enemy
cannot long remain in that position.
The Anglo-American thrust already ap-
pears to have fractured the keystone Of
the Ghent-Tournai-Valen
arch at Normal forest.
There is much speculation here, how
ever, as to whether the enemy will be
able to stop the tide of retreat he has
started. now that it is in full swing.
The whole enemy line from the Disc
lieve it will be a difficult matter to
Solidify it again II allied pressure can
keep pace with the retreat.
The very depth of the enemy with
drawal, it is possible, may serve to
give him time for this readjustment
The communication lines of the
French, British and Belgian armies
are rolling out behind them in ever
extending avenues back TO their bases.
The armies cannot outrun those
arteries and it takes time to repair
and build railways to handle the vast
hat or I'd nNyn
hour.
Pause Expected in Belgium.
likely that a pause will soon occur in
Belgium and on the northern half of
the great battle front. They are
watching intently, however, for a
new thrust by the American and
Franco-American forces east and
holding the key to the whole enemy
front, whatever plans for gradual
withdrawal to the German frontier
have been made.
1t is pointed out that while many
intermediate lines have been indicated
as possible defense positions in the
northern battle areas, all reports have
agreed upon the Mezieres- Sedan Mont
medy-Metz front as the only defense
position in the field before the
French and Americans on both sides
of the Mouse. Maj. Gen. Liggett's
American LIST Army is already within
twelve miles of that line.
There is good reason to expect a
concentration Of effort to bridge this
gap and come to grips with the enemy
in his position of last resort, officers
think. The Franco-American opera
lions are taking shape for new
thrust along the Meuse, and in that
connection particular Importance was
attached today to he crossing of the
Aisne and capture of the heights east
and north of Vouziers by the French.
Face Difficult Ground.
On this front the French now stand
almost at right angles to the Amer
lean lines east Of Grand Pre-. Wooded,
h1liy ground faces both armies, but a
pocketing enterprise apparently is be-
ing developed around this forest re-
Eion that is blocking the movement
along the MeuSe. Berlin reports show
fierce fighting in the depths Of this
pocket, the repulse of the French and
Americans being claimed.
The French are approaching tie
Ardennes canal line north of the for
est barrier. 1t may be possible, it
was said today, that a swift pincer
movement, similar to that which
cleared the Argonne pocket before,
will be launched to open the road to
the German main line Of resistance.