The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-10-18

advance into the German defenses east
of LIE Cateau. The other Is with the
French and is materially assisting In
the attempt to smash in the right
flank of the German salient north
east of Laon.
Foe Resistance Stubborn.
In both these regions the Allies have
found German resistance very stub
born and have been forced to fight
their way ahead in the face of with
ering gusts of bullets and shells from
the German armies which have appa-
rently turned at bay. 1t is probably
that east of LIE Cateau. the Germans
are standing on the Hunding line OF
defensive zone established to support
the Hindenburg system, which is now
gone. Farther south the enemy Is
evidently holding the Allies at bay
until the forces retyeating from Laon
can make their escape.
The retreat from Laon has. it is ad-
mitted by allied observers, been con-
Quoted with great skill. 1t has been a
tremendous task to move thousands
of men, hundreds of heavy guns and
mountains Of munitions out Of the
Laon sector, but it is being done with
Arm.
Rain Retards Advance.
Continued rains have retarded the
American advance in the Argonne sec
tor. but in spite of the bad weather
and the terrible condition OF the
ground, General Pershing's men have
gained ground east OF the Argonne
forest Cote Chatillion, a dominating
height, has been taken and positions
near it are solidly held by the Ameri-
cans.
Germany is expected to send a re-
joinder to President Wilson's reply to
the peace proposals of Prince Maxi
milan. 1t is reported that the note
was sent last night. Field Marshal
Won Hindenberg is said to be in Berlin
to participate in the framing OF the
note to Washington.
Rumors to the effect that the field
marshal virtually dictated the f1rst
peace note sent from Berlin to Wash
ington will be recalled in connection
with the present situation. 1t was
said that he had insisted that Ger
many make peace. if possible.
GLORIOUS DAY FOR ALLIES
PARIS. Oct 18.-Lille, Douai and
Ostend, three great cities, have been
delivered from the enemy. This is
the most glorious day for the allies
,, since the battle of the Marne and 1t
fittingly terminates a wonderful bat
tie of three months, which was open
ed by General Mangin's victorious
counter offensive on July IS.
Many cities have been liberated
and hundreds of square miles OF ter
ritory retaken The results have
been splendid. But the victory In
Belgium is not all The British south
OF LIE Cateau have broken into the
German positions and now threaten
the Hunding line. The whole Ger
man defense system eastward to the
Meuse is in peril.
AS the first result of forcing the
Germans back to the Ghent-Tournai-
Valenciennes line during yesterdays
fighting has been to sap the enemy's
defenses before they have been able
to reach them farther south. Without
exaggeration it may be said that the
prospects Of the future are even more
important than the actual results at
tanned, splendid though they may be.
The road to Brussels is open. Ac-
cording to latest advices, the French
and Belgian armies are advancing rap
idly towards Bruges and Client. The
capture of Ostend makes it possible
to land reinforcements and throw pow
erful forces against the extreme right
OF the German army.