Grand Forks herald., 1918-09-03
London Enthusel.

Aouuon. sept. S.-The sensational
breaking of the famous Drocourt-
.lueant sWltch line after a series Of
important Allied advances with great
captures Of men and material has
MADE an immense impression here
while too great confidence that the
success can be maintained is de-
precated and while the expectation ia
general that the enemy will make the
most desperate efforts to recover the
position, the blow is regarded as one
OF the worst disasters inflicted on the
Germans during the whole war and
one winch must cause their high COM
mand the deepest anxiety.
The belief is general that the
switchline is the main system Of Ger
man defense and that there is nothing
equally strong behind it. Consequent
ly its loss, IL 1t becomes final. onens
the widest possibilities.
Its loss would involve the evacua-
ton Of the French coal field. perhaps
even OF the Flanders coast" says the
Mail, "and would imperil the German
hold on Douai, Valenciennes and
Cambria. which are essential to Hin
denourg Tor manoeuvring his armies.
The switch line is thus the pivot Of
the whole German front and its
breach means that we have forced
the enemy to struggle of man
against man which he had used all Of
his ingenuity to avoid.'
The Telegraph, also noting the
danger to the important German CEN
ters Of communication, says:
III the Germans cannot stand be-
fore Douai, Cambria and st. Quentin.
they can stand nowhere this side of
the German frontier II it is possible
Tor them to fight harder and throw in
reserves at 9Wiffor
have done in the last few days they
will do SO. We doubt the possibility
OF their accomplishing either"
Other commentators remark that
the Germans now pretend that they
are retiring according to plan, and are
convinced that the retirement will be
compulsorily carried much further
than they ever intended.
Moving Near Ham.
Paris, Sept 3.-(Havas).-Con-
slant movements toward the rear Of
the German lines on the somme
front in tho regions of Ham and
Guiscard are reported by the corre-
spondent Of Le Journal At British
headquarters. Hospitals and dress
ing stations are being hastily cleared.
while conveys are moving northeast
ward. harassed by Entente airplanes
French Official Report,
Paris. Sept 3.-Artillery actions on
the Somme front and further south
between the Disc and the Aisne. are
reported in the official statement is
sued at tho war Office today.
The text Of the statement reads:
During the. night there was artil-
lery actions on the front of the
Somme and between the Disc and the
Aisne.
Enemy raids along the vesle river
and in the Vosges region were with
out result"
Americans Push On.
Washington, Sept. 3.-Continued
advances by American troops north
of the Aisne in spite Of strong enemy
resistance are reported by General
Pershing in his communiaue for
Monday, announcing tho capture of
Terny-Storny. The communique fol-
lows:
Section A. North Of the Aisne our
troops have continued to advance in
spite of the strong resistance Of the
enemy, and have taken the village
Of Terny-Sorny. In the operations
yesterday In this region they. captur-
cd 67z prisoners, two los caliber
gums and ~ machine guns. North
Of the Vesle two local hostile attacks
west Of B1smes were repulssd with
loss.