The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-10-18
GERMANY LOSES
BELGIAN COAST
Bases From Which U.BoatS
Worked Four Years at
Last Freed.
ALLIES NOW RELENTLESS
In Speed W %,which Troops
Sweep ard, Crushing.
Hv 8 atachments.
ALLIES NOW RELENTLESS
i = ociated Press.)

| II s ociated Press.)
The o. n withdrawal from west
ern B.'s i and the coastal region
showS signs of halting. The allied
force e pressing rapidly after the
retirin. enemy. and additional cities
and towns have been occupied.
From Lille southwark the German
retirement is not so rapid. but the
British maintain a strong pressure all
along the line east of Cambria Fur
ther south the enemy Is retiring from
the angle between the Oise and the
Serre.
Zeebrugge, the second and last of the
submarine bases on the coast, Is re-
ported occupied by the British forces
probably naval units. and the enemy is
reported to have evacuated Rruges
which Belgian cavalry is approaching.
In the center the French and Belgians
continue to advance toward Ghent by
way of fhielt.
In the Lille region the British are
working eastward toward Turcoing and
Roubaix, and the fall OF these cities
would appear to be a matter only of
hours. East of Douai. Field Marshal
Haig is marching toward Valenciennes.
In the operations south of Valenciennes
Thursday the British took 1000 pris-
oners.
The German retirement between the
Disc and the Serre was made neces-
sary because the enemy was in
pocket, the sides of which were being
pressed In by the French. The French
are advancing northeastward from the
junction of the two rivers and have
taken Anguilcourt. two miles east of
inn o.,I
Northwest of the Argonne forest
Gen. Gouraud is battling forward
against stubborn resistance, and the
fighting front west of Grandpre has
been extended to vouziers. In the
neighborhood of Vouziers the French
nave carried out an important stroke
by crossing the Aisne river. Evidently
the French aim to advance northeast
from Vouziers and outfank the Ger
mans In the Bout forest. This would
De OF great assistance to the Ameri-
can advance east of the forest,
Germany has apparently lost the
whole OF the Belgian coast, which for
Tour years has been the base of sub
marine and -s.-nefiai
England and English shipping. Ostend
mas been taken, Lille has been occu-
pied and Douai has fallen to the allies.
belgian patrols are said to be in
Bruges, which is only about eight miles
from the Dutch frontier. German
forces, defeated and virtually demoral-
lzed, are said to be in full retreat
toward Antwerp.
Over a wide section Of the front in
Belgium and northern France the
British, French and Belgian armies
have swept forward with relentless
speed, crushing rear guard detach-
ments left behind by tt Germans to
retard pursuit Immense quantities of |
materials have been captured by the |
allies and the number of prisoners
taken Is steadily mounting. Keeping |
step with this movement, although at |
/ slower pace, the allied forces further |
south have been moving ahead. From |
'eports it would appear that two |
American contingents, ,are operating in !
ront east of Cambria and st. Quentin.
One Is working with the British and Is
liding in the advance into the Ger
nan defense east of lie Cateau. The
'ther is with the French and is ma
erially assisting in the attempt to
smash In the right flank Of the German
salient northeast of Laon.
In both these regions the allies have
ound German resistance very stub
,orn and have been forced to fight
heir way ahead in the face Of withcr-
ng gusts Of bullets and shells from the
German armies which have apparently
urned at bay. 1t is probable that east
II the lie Cateau the Germans are
tanding on the Hunding line of de-
ensive zone established to support the
system, (which is now
zone. Further south the enemy is evil
lently holding the allies at bay until
he forces "etreating from Laon can
make their escape.
The retreat from Laon has, it is ad-
nitted by alice observers, been con-
ucted with great kill. 1t has been
tremendous task to move thousands
( men, hundreds Of heavy guns and
nountains of munitions out Of the
.aon sector but it is being done while
he f1ankS Of the salient stand firm.
Continued rains haye retarded the
american advance in the Argonne sec
o. but in spite of the bad weather
nd the terrible condition of the
round east Of the Argonne forest. :
'ote de Chatillon, a dominating height, {
as been taken and positions near 1t !
re solidly held by the Americans.
Germany Is expected to send re- !
binder to President Wilson's reply to !
he peace proposals of Prince Maxi
lillian. 1t is reported that the note
'as sent last night. Field Marshal ,
on Hindenburg is said to be in Berlin {
, participate in the framing of the I
ote to Washington. Rumors to the
feet that the ield marshal virtually
ictated the first peace note sent from !
erlin to Washington will be recalled J
connection with the present sit :
on. 1t was said that he had insisted !,
rat Germany wake peace, IL r r'ssible, :
nd in the event that was found i'm :,
ossible, a retreat to lines near or on :
lie German frontier would be impera- {
We.