Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-10-14
Allied Armies Enter Laon
and Are in Outskirts
of Douai.
VALENCIENNES WILL
BE NEXT TO FALL
Slowed Up by Stiffenine German
Hesistanee-Enemx Attempting to
Make Stand on Hundins Line Far In
Rear Of Hindenburs Line-AIlies
Believe They Can Take New Defense.
TBy the soeiated Press.1

German forces have abandoned
laon and the whole ST. Gobain
region. The French. after reoeeupy-
ing laon have pressed on until
their line now runs from the Disc
river, above LaFere, to the eastern
end Of the Chemin des Danes.
When the Germans besan to fall
back out Of the bag into which
they were slowly being caught.
<hey went with such speed that
tho change in the battle line in
that section Of the front during a
few hours was astonishing.
q. Not until the French reached tho
-laor-LaFere railroad did they en-
counter any real resistance. @
Il, Italian troops participated in the
sadvanes and now are engaged on
tho hills north of tho Ailette river.
At this particular point the Ger.
man lines have been pressed back
or withdrawn 50 a sharp angle has
been created.
With the exception Of the area
north Of Douai there appears to
have been a slowing down Of tie
allied advance during the past
couple Of days. At no point have
the British and Americans swept
ahead as they did late last week.
This may indicate that the Ger
mans have reached what 10 known
as the hunding, or Brunhild, line.
This position, while much less
formidable, 30 far as known,/ than
the Hindenburg system, is still
strong enough to restrict pursuit
by the allies, and perhaps hold for
some time.
The Hundins limo runs from
Antwerp to Ghent and thence to
Journal, conde,. vaIeneiennes.
soIesn,es, Guise, Rethei, VOUCHERS,
Dun Sur- Meuse, and then down
the base Of the St. Mihiel salient
to the Moselle, where It joins the
OIL front running thru Lorraine
and the vosses to the Swiss
frontier.
French and British forces have
virtually reached this line east OF
carbrai and St. Quentin. British
units are reported at Schemes,
while the French. farther south.
are within four miles Of Guise.
On the Champagne front Gen.
eraI sertheIot IS less than five
miles from, Rethei. while farther
east General Gouraud has taken
vouxiers, but has not penetrated
much north Of that place. Amer
leans fighting in tho Arsonne
reuion are thru the kr;emhild line,
but their progress there is very
slow.
study Of the tactics followed by
tho Germans during tho past week
has shown they arc following the
methods Of retreat used in the
Marns and sommc salients in July
and August.
They have Held their aanks fair.
" secure and have withdrawn their
centef. They have thus apparently
escaped disaster arornd laon,
whore military experts have said
the Germans had delayed their re-
tirement too lsrs for their ow"
safety.
In the region Of Doua' British
troops are fighting their way for
ward against desperate resistance.
Douai Is virtually reached, while
10 the north Tho limo is sagging on
sharply TO the east. Should oouai
fall the British would bs, able to
advance on valsneisnnes.,t .
~ Tire n;se river has been crossed
by the French to the northeast OF
LaFsrs at orieny and they have
advauesd close 70 the river to the
north.
in Albanis the Italians have
captured kavaya. = town twelve
miles seuth,ast Of Duraxxo.
Paris, Oct, 14.-sixty- FIVE hundre
iyilians were liberated when Frent
roops entered L,on. !: was official
tated tonight.
French troops last night continue
0 keep In contact with the retirir
;ermans, the var office announced Z
lay. The French repulsed the eneH
roops showing resistance on the mort
ss " L.8s NJ q sl n sSa5