The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-09
FOCH HURLING
GERMANS BACK
ON SEA FRONT
Haig Smashes at Shoulder
Of Lille Salient to
Hurry Retreat.
OPEN FIGHTING AHEAD
Battle Around Cambrai Furi-
Gus and One of the Most
Vital OF War.
OPEN FIGHTING AHEAD
Special Gable Despasch TO TEE Sun.
cosri0ht. 1915: au richts reserped.


LONDON, Oct. S.-Marshal Foch has
decided that the Germans in their
retreat from the COASTAL regions of
Belgium and the adjacent districts
Of northern France are not moving
rapidly enough. To-day Field Mar
shall Haig started q new drive in the
CambraiSt. Quentin sector, the ap-
parent purpose Of which Is to crush
In the southern shoulder of the Lille
salient, forcing the Germans to hurry
their retreat and driving them into
the open country east of the Hinden-
. burg system of defences, where they
can be handled more easily. The
German Is never good fighter in
the open, but only behind tire strong
est kind Of defences.
The British Third and Fourth ar
mics drove forward on n front Of
about twenty miles, from Cambria
southwark, with large American
contingent operating with the Fourth
British Army. They penetrated four
to FIVE miles, taking dozen villages
and many prisoners. The battle nj.
ready has developed into one Of the
most furious Of the wnr ma promises
to become one OF the most vital. The
barrage which preceded the attack
seldom II ever has been equalled.
North and South Carolina and Ten
nessee troops played large part in
the brilliant advance of the day.
They captured Brancourt and Pre-
mont, marking the apex of the ad-
vance in that section of the line, and
ot the latest reports were holding
fast to them.
Tie Third and Fourth armies ad-
lines. On their right, east and little
north Of St. Quentin, the French made
an independent but coordinated attack
N which they made equal progress.
taking the villages Of Esslgny and
I'ontaine. When this attack OF the
British, Americans and French is COM
pleted the Hindenburg line. SO called,
will be only an unpleasant memory.
Germans IN Desperate Plight.
The German armies are offering des-
perate resistance north OF st. Quentin
and in the Champagne to the Allies
efforts to widen the breaches already
made in the German lines. Never be-
fore in the war have the Germans,
looking at the situation as whole.
been in such desperate plight in mil
itary way and never before have the
Allies troops fought with such vim
and elan and with such uniform sue
cess
Military critics here are agreed that
the purpose of the German resistance
is to afford their army chance to fall
back without disastrous loss to their
probable line Of defence. which as they
planned 1t ran through Lille to Valen-
ciennes, then to Maubeuge and Aves-
nes to Hirson, on the Belgian frontier
near.y east OF st. Quentin. In view Of
he drive to-day, however. It is not
likely that the Germans will be able to
hold Lille, and probably the line. start
ing from the Dutch border, win run
through Client and then to Valen-
Ciennes.
II Is no secret that Marshal Foch has
completed the operations that are pre-
liminary to a tremendous enort 10
achieve the decisive stroke which he has
contemplated since he took the initiative.
lie now has maneuvred the enemy into
positions which he desired that they
should occupy when the time arrived TO
overwhelm them by attacking when
further retirement presented the maxi
mum difficulties.
The enemy's tremendous losses. the in
"ressing threat to his communications
and his lack Of material have a military
opinion placed the German army where
lis defeat on a colossal scale 10 tmpend-
ing
Retreat Foreshadowed.
The burning Of Laon.s further 70 the
south, 10 believed to borcshadow tine
abandonment OF the whole point of the
huge salient which extends from Lille
TO Rheims including the most powerful
defensive positions the Germans hold In
France. the St dobain massif ana the
Chemin des Danes. together with Laon.
the cornerstons and pillar OF the Ger
man systen.
To the east Of this region the French
are making progress step by step with
thcif allies TO the west and north. Gen.
'iouraud = troops. after guessing the
suppe and the Aisne. have seized the
Css,iwasd on TAsrS Pass.