The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1918-10-11

Retreat Accelerdteo.
The Germans indeed are already
carrying out a general retreat. But
It is retreat under pressure and al
though being skilfully conducted is
bound to cost them heavily In men
and material Last nights develop
ments and those Of today along the
wide battle front only serve to accent
uate the extent of the German retreat.
and the acceleration Of its pace. Their
official report reveals the British ana
the Americans cooperating with them
still widening the great wedge In the
German line southeast of Cambria
process in which the French to the
south are aiding notably
This sensational drive in the center
is matched in efficacy however. by
the terrific pressure of the French
army south of Laon and along the
line north of Aisne and In the Cham
payne. The French today crossed the
Aisne east Of Oeuilly and drove tho
enemy northward.
The Americans are with the French
in applying the pressure in the Cham
payne and the American first army In
it's drive in the Argonne area has join
ed hands with General Petains troops
at Grandpre In the Champagne sec
tor the Germans have begun re-
treat toward the Aisne. French forces
have crossed the Aisne at Fermes.
Must Evacuate St. Gobain
Today's advices from the battle
front indicate it is virtually certain
the Germans will have to evacuate
the ST. Gobain forest almost immedi-
ately.
The Germans are evacuating the
Chemin- Des-D Danes under the pressure
of the converging attack west and
south Of It.
The line behind Laon between the
rivers Serre and Sissone, have been
turned. making the German situation
in the Laon most difficult
American troops operating with the
British on the front southeast of Cam
brai, completed last night the capture
of Vaux-Andigny and ST. Souplet. Field
Marshal Haig announced In his offi-
cial statement today.
Serbian troops after capturing Les
kovatz again advanced and on October
s had reached a line ten miles to the
north of that town, says an official
statement issued by the Serbian gen.
eral staff More than 5000 prisoners
were taken and five more guns were
captured.
ENEMY AsANDoNs LIE cATEAU
From Douai to Verdun. the tide OF
German invasion is ebbing. A general
retreat of the Teutonic forces over
this far flung line appears to have
been begun some time yesterday.
East Of Cambria, the enemy has
abandoned lie Cateau. which has been
occupied by the British and Ameri
cans. Farther south the French have
pushed farther eastward in their ad
vance from st. Quentin.
Just north Of lie Fere. where the
enemy has held his positions since
early in September. the French have
taken the village Of Servais, which
marks the point where the wedge is
entering the St. Gobain stronghold, In
which the Germans have almost i'm
pregrable positions.
Flushing eastward along the Chemin
des-Dames, the French have forced the
enemy across the Oise-Aisne cana
and. lust to the southeast. they have
crossed the Aisne a little to the east
ward OF Oeuilly.
U. S. Divisions Gain.
In the Champagne sector, the forces
Of General Gouraud have swept ah ead
and occupied Termes and Grandpre
which stand on the north bank OF the
Airs river as it winds through the
Argonne forest.
East of the Argonne forest. Ameri
can divisions have smashed their way
ahead. taking Sommerance, Sevleres
and Marco. This brings them nearl!
up to Grandpre. Further east the!
have restified their line on each side
Of the Meuse.
The significant feature of this fight
ing is that in the Champagne. Argon
ne and Cambrai-St. Quentin sectors
there has been but little resistance
TO the advance Of the allied armies