Middletown transcript., 1918-10-26

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under Austrian domination. Baron
Rurian, admitting the central powers
no longer had a chance Of achieving
military decision, p!astered President
Wilson with hattery, declaring that
his humanitarian policies were fully
accepted by Austria-Hungary.
II was taken for granted that Tlr-
kew. under the leadership of lzzet
Pasha. the new grand vizier. was
about ready to make separate peace.
In the effort to hold her in line, the
German Black sea fleet was sent to
Constsntinople and the government
was warned that the first step toward
breaking away from the alliance with
Germany would be the signal for
hombardment Of the city. Despite the
presence Of the warships. 20 In num-
Der, revolution broke out In Con-
stantinop.e against the Young Turks,
whose power had not been wholly
t.roken by the change in cabinet.
Roumania, which has been frankly
looking for chance to get into the
war again, may have the opportunity
very soon. Already the inhabitants of
the northern part Of the country. In
the province Of Moldavia. have risen
in armed revolt against the AustrO-
German forces of occupation.
On the western battle front the
great event Of the week was the
smashing drive Of the allies in Elan
ders by which in few days the Bel
gian seaports held by the Huns were
practically cut off and the Germans
were forced back rapidly almost to the
Dutch frontier This drive, made
mostly by the British and BelgianS.
was directed toward RrugeS and
Ghent In quick succession Roulers.
Menln. Lendelede and ether towns
were captured: Wednesday night the
British occupied courtrai, and on
Thursday the city Of Lille was taken
by them. The Belgians took Thourout,
and moved ahead rapidly to Bruges,
which they occupied with little oppO-
sition. At the same time the British
were entering Ostend. and few
tOurS later King Albert and Queen
Elizabeth were In that famous town
which for years had been one of the
chief C-boat bases of the Huns. Tee
frugge. also. 1t was said was being
evacuated as fast as possible. and the
Germans in the strip of Belgium be-
tween Bruges and the Holland border
were making strenuous efforts to get
out Of the bottle neck. There was
only one practicable road for them,
and that was under the constant fire
from the Belgian batteries.
Having given up Lille, which they
did not destroy, according to new or
ders from the army command. the
Huns were next forced to get out of
Douai. and the process Of f1attening
cut the salient proceeded merrily. 1t
appeared likely the Germans would
continue their retirement until they
were on the line Antwerp-Namur-
MeZieres-Metz. This, of course,
meant tremendous retreat on a very
wide front and would not he Mt all
easy Of accomplishment while Marshal
Foch was unrelentingly hammering at
them in every sector. From the coast
t. La Cateau the withdrawal was he
Ing carried on so rapidly that at this
writing no adequate guess could be
E,ade as to its full extent. The aban.
donment Of the Belgian coast by the
Huns meant that allied commerce was
freed in great part from the U-boat
peril and that air raids on England
could no longer be carried out with
ease. The allies captured vast stores
and many heavy guns in Belgium.
~
Having forced the Huns out OF Laon
and La Fere, the French maintained
0 steady pressure on both sides OF the
waning salient there, making progress
that was continuous, though not rapit
because Of the increased resistance OF
the enemy. As the Hunding line OF
refuge was approached. in the region
Of Rethel, an important German rail
way supply station on the Aisne. It be
came apparent that the Huns INTENDED
to try to hold that line for time
From Rethel almost to Verdun thu
French and American armies Tough
continuously. driving the Germans
back across the Grand Pre-VOuziere
road and up both sides OF the Meuse
The Yankees took Grand Pre-, on tn
northern bank Of the Aire river nOrtl
of the Argonne forest, through which
they had fought their way so bravel!
and doggedly. The place. though M
small village. Is Of great strategic
Importance, being the junction OF tn
railways feeding large part OF tn