Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-09-10
huRL HUN BACK ON
SECTOR Near YPRES
With the British Army in France, Sept |.
The Belgian army today began offensive
against the Germans and advanced more than a

mile, capturing the vii
lage Of Pilkelm, north
east of Ypres.
This extends the activities from the
Flanders fighting zone toward the
North sea.
The advance was carried out over
a front of more than three miles.
The attack extended all the way
from Pilkelm to the north of st. Jean,
northeast of the ruins Of Ypres.
The Belgians advanced with all Of
their old time dash and vigor.
1t is believed the Belgian advance
is the first stroke in move to break
the German hold on the North sea
coast
French Extend Lines.
Paris. Sept. l1.--French forces have
extended their gain east Of st. Co
balm canal and repulsed two strong
German counter attacks in the region
south of the Ailette river the war of.
flee announced today
The War in Summary.
While both the French and British
have gained more ground across
wide stretches OF the battle front
German resistance is apparently
stiffening along the flank Of the
Hindenburg line, in an effort to
prevent the allies from completely
turning this great chain Of defen-
sive works before autumn storms
put an end to operations.
The positions captured by the
British near Gauzeancourt opposite
the Wopom switch, and newly won
French ground south of the Ailette
river have both been under heavy
German counter attacks during the
past twenty-four hours.
The Germans were repulsed ev.
erywhere.
To the east of the Crozat canal,
the French are extending their posi-.
tions in the direction Of the La
Fere Laon defenses on the south
ern end Of the Hindenburg line,
capturing a small town three miles
from the Disc river.
The French are rapidly approach.
ing the Disc river in this district,
where the Germans have turned the
stream and the canal into a strong
series Of fortifcations
If the allies are able to form
/ a passage it would compel the Ger
mans to give up a great portion OF
their prepared line of defense.
In that district the allies have
gained thirty-six miles since their
offensive started In the past TWEEN.
ty-four hours the allies have made
gains in Flanders Picardy and the
Aisne and are steadily pushing their
flanking movement against the Hin
denburg line
The British have crept closer to
Messines ridge on the Franco Bel
gian frontier and are menacing this
position from three sides.
On the Aisne river front the
/ Americans have stabilized their new
lines and are extending their gains
toward Rheims.
EVacuating Douai.
London Sept. 1.-THE great Ger
man base in northern France is be
ing evacuated and most of the popu
lation has already left, it is reported
| by German war correspondents at tn,
front
Haig Praises British Troops.
b. London, Sept. 1.-THE allied arm
les are today everywhere advancin,
says Field Marshal Haig, the British
commando rim chief, in a special orde
of the day which has just cen issuet
10 the British army.
It follows:
"One month has now passed sine
the British armies have successful,
@ithstood all attacks by the enemy
} once more took the offensive IN thei
i turn.
"ln that short space Of time by
i series Of brilliant and sknlfully e,
Il ecuted actions our troops repeated
defeated fe same German armie
whose vastly superior numbers con
PEELED our retreat last spring.
What has happened on the Britis
|, front has happened on the front O
O our allies, less than six months afte
\ the landing of the great German ol
), fensive which was to have cut tn
t allied front in two.
Y THE allied armies are everywher
d advancing victoriously side by sid