Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-09-17
SERB ATTACK BRINGS
FIGHT TO new ZONE
Two theatres of war, the French and the Bal
kan, witnessing smashing ofensives
against the Germans and their allies

Following a steady ad-
vance for two months on
the western battle front
French and Serbian torces Ioosed a
terrific blow on the center Of the
Balkan front, advancing five miles in
the first phase of the battle over a
width of more than twelve miles.
Now that the allies are driving
ahead in two of the great zones of
warfare it is not impossible that
Italy will soon be the next great blow
The thrust in the Balkans fell upon
their front near the Bulgarian bor-
der. The central pressure was di.
rected against the zone thru which
the railway lines from Saloinki run.
If the allies are able to break thru
the Bulgarian mountain defenses they
will be in position to strike east.
ward cutting the Orient railway, the
only artery OF communication be.
tween the Central Powers and Tur.
key.
If this line can be cut Turkey
would virtually be put out of the
war as there are two big British ar.
mics already in Turkey, that would
be able to begin diverging move.
ment an Constantinople
The American advance In front Of
Metz continues, especially in the val.
ley of the Moselle, where mopplng
up operations are in progress. The
| Americans are now evidently moving
up their big guns and ammunition to
the read of their new lines and are
preparing to concentrate terrific
bombardments against the new Ger
man positions.
Twice since last week the Germans
have been compelled to retreat on
| the Meuse-Moselle front and the
Americans are now getting ready to
make their new line untenable
The British and French are striv.
ing forward steadily in their hanking
operations against st Quentin and
the Aisne heights, moving up every
time the Germans attempt to stand.
The battle area in Macedonia has
been free from activity for some time
alth0 there was atiare up Of fight
ing in Southern Albania several
months ago when the French and
Italians advanced
Say Kaiser has Abdicated
London, Sept. II -- 1t was learned
here this afternoon that rumors are
current in border countries that the
German Kaiser either has abdicated
or is about to abdicate.
The rumor was the yagest sort
but It was regarding some trouble in
the Hohenzollern family.
There is absolutely no confrma-
ton Of it here.
One report was that the entire Ho-
henzollern dynasty had or would alb.
dicate.
British Get 100 Foe Planes.
London, Sept. l7-One hundred and
one enemy aircraft were destroyed
and tifty?seven driven down out OF
control by British aviators on the
| u-ogtorp frOut lurino tba met Nunalf
it was officially announced today
Only fifty-one British machines were
reported missing during the same
period
Quiet on United States Sector.
Washington, Sept. 17--Asi1e from
local combats in which We took prs
oners and further artillery and avia
ton activities there is nothin gto re
port from the St Mihiel sector, Gen
eral Pershing reported In his com
muniQue for yesterday.
s7,3A7, ,72o 60231 Needed.
Washington, Sept IA total oI
$T34T720, ,602 80 is the war depart
mcn,S estimate Of the amount needed
to finance the increased army pro
, gram The figures received from tht
war department we're announced to
day by Chairman Sherley Of the
0 House appropriations committee, who
$ said that when added to the $29,79l,
q 2tlII2S1 already appropriated they
| constituted the answer Of Congress Il
t the Austro-Iiungarian peace proposal
Serbs Gain Five Miles.
y Salonikj. Sept 17--Launching I
4 great offensive blow on the Balkan
4 front, French and Serbian troops ad
/. yanced i've miles on a twelve and {
& haf mile front, It was officially an
O nounced today.
4 More than 3,o00 prisoners ant
3 twenty flour guns were captured.
. FLY Over German Soil.
With the American Army on thu
Lorraine Front, Sept 1.-Two Ameri
can observation airplanes toda!