The sun., 1918-09-11
FALL OF LA FERE SEEN
Germans Hold on hrmen-
there's Precarious aid Brit.
ish Are Pressing Them.
LILLE BRITISH OBJECTIVE
Whole German Position in
France Threatened by Gen.
eral Offensive.

LONDON, sept. 1O.-Desplte exceed
ingly bad weather, Marshal Foch's
great operation against the Germans
in and near what was formerly the
Hindenburg line continued to-day
with undiminishel vigor. making as
much progress as could lie expected
under the circumstances. Apparently
the first step In the grand smash Is
to be the capture of st. Quentin. as
the British, moving in from the north
and northwest, approached to-day TO
about three miles Of the city. while
the French, coming IN from the
south and southwest, are within
about two miles.
The HindenburC line has become
little more than form Of expression.
1t has been punctured. torn and over
run In ;" many places that 1t has
practically no military value now,
but some OF The cities and villages
that were upon It doubtless will he
held tenaciously by the Germans for
while. The line as Il line has
ceased to exist. The British in the
middle district and the French lit
tie TO the south of them both closed
up the small remaining gaps before
the line to-day, the British north OF
Epehy and the French mt Hinacourt.
Flanking Chemin des Danes.
Further to the south the French
made additional progress in what
promises to be one of the great opera
tons OF the year, the turning Of the
ST. Gohain massf and the tianking OF
the famous Chemin des Danes. II is
predicted that when these actions havo
been concluded, in conjunction with
the British operations in the north in
the fpres district. the Germans will be
I IN the uncomfortable position of hav-
ing no Pace to go unless they leave
France, and perhaps Belgium
In this southern district, where the
american contingent is fighting Shout
der to shoulder with the French. tho
Allies have advanced as far as the Disc
RlFer along practically their whole
front In that area; they are within two
miles of La Fere, the fall of which now
seems to he merely a matter OF the
French convenience, and are threaten
ing dangerously the western end of the
Chemin des Danes. A very little fur
ther advance along this line will make
that famous position untenahle for the
4 n-
tianke6.
The Americans. who are working with
the French In this sector. are also con-
Quoting the southeastern end of the
same operation from the region Of the
Aisne between Scissors ard Rheims.
| Naturally their progress in that region
must depend on tho advance by the
! French to the west
See Fall of Armentteres.
In the greater events that are taking
place IN the south the situation in the
north should not be overlooked Field
Marshal Haig tonight reports that in
local operation" the British to-day
made slight progress near Neuve Cha
pelle ana Armentieres. In fact the hold
or tho Germans upon Armentieres has
become 50 precarious that the fall OF
the city may be expected at any mo-
ment, and La Bassee, further 10 the
south. Is in almost the same state.
Apparently the British objective now
is Lille. the great city which dominates
the whole northern region. Should that
be taken this year 1t Ia difficult 10 see
how the Germans can avoid a wide re-
| ha .l,nla
Belgium, losing their small hold on the
| seacoast there. II is noteworthy that
in an order OF the day Field Marshsl
Haig is very optimistic over the out
| look. He mentions that In four weeks
the British alone have made 7b, 900 pris-
oners and captured $50 guns.
Flood to Stop Tanks.
Some OF the German newspaper cor.
respondents show anxiety over tie
situation caused by the British advance
along the Scarpe In tho Arras region.
| The correspondent OF the Frankfort
Gazette, for instance, points out that u
drive by the British from the apex of
| the wedge they have pushed into the
| line in that region would lead to the
gates OF Douai. The correspondent ex-
presses the hope that artificial floods
VIII pe put III the way OF The British
to help stop the tanks.
Additional advices that fires are
burning in Douai have been received,
the correspondent OF the Daily Nal on
the British front now reporting them.
| There are three German lines of de-
fence behind the Hindenburg line. the
first closely parsllellng II and tho others
providing for retreats along wide fronts.
according to an outline OF tue German