Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-27
Allies Smash Into Funding
Line-American Drive Expected.
Foe Retreat to Rhine Possible.

threat OF cutting their communica-
lions to the rear. Germany has found
and not at all trustworthy in so far as
their allegiance to the Germans Is
concerned. AS consequence this
combined Finnish-German effort has
not materialized and the allies have
had but the bolsheviki to combat.
Throughout Russia the commissions
assigned to the task of crushing coun-
ter revolutions continue their era of
bloodshed throughout all those regions
still controlled by the bolsheviki Tens
OF thousands of political suspects have
been offered up to the prejudices of
the bolsheviki leaders and everywhere
there are no signs that the reds will
desist in their attempts to wipe out
all such opposition. concrete or po-
tent1al, as may exist.
Military operations during the week
when the whole western front is
taken into
Weeks Fighting consideration
on Western Front. near that II the
allied armies at most points were
being held in check by the Germans
on the Hunding line, stretching from
Client, Journal. Valenciennes, Guise,
Solesmes, Rethel, the Meuse to
Switzerland. AS matter of fact. the
fully, too, all operations attempted
or planned by them.
After having reached the Holland
border and approaching Client, where
and crossing the river Lys to the
southwark, the allies in Belgium
sought chiefly to iron out the kinks
in their line and consolidate their
+ g.. l.
extensive offensive movements. This
they accomplished in every case. MAX
ing some material gains in some To-
calities in the center of the line in
the direction of Client. The allies
brought their positions closer to
Journal and manifestly can take the
city whenever they deem fit.
On the line of the Scheldt, the main
German defensive position in the So
called Hunding line. the allies have
smashed forward from north of
Courtrai to a point near the Aisne.
French and American forces have CO.
operated with the British. The Humid
ing line both north and south of Va
lenciennes has been severed over
ten-mile front at one point and pene-
trated shorter distances at others.
The main allied offensive of the
week came when Fielu Marshal HalS
sma shed forward on a Seventeen-mile
front to the east of LIE Cateau. Both
northward and southwark the Brit
ish. French and Americans crossed
the Selle and the Disc canals and
the center of the Hunding defense
Not only does this offensive break
ND the German positions in the Valen-
ciennes region, but the approach to
Maubeuge also brings peril to the
next line of German defense to the
eastward Most certainly does 1t COM
pei German retirement both north and
south of Valenciennes. just as the
British push between st. Quentin and
Cambria forced the Germans to quit
the Hindenburg line.
The American forces have been
fighting with great bravery in this re-
eion and have won plaudits from their
sturdy British brothers in arms. 1t
plainly is the aim OF Field Marshal
Haig to envelop Valenciennes. forcing
German withdrawal rather than press
ing the frontal attack which brought
the British to points within the city
earlier in the week.
While the British have been smash
ing forward on this vital section OF
the front the French armies in the
Champagne and between the Disc and
the Serre have never for moment
ceased their constant pressure against
the enemy. AS the situation stands
in the Champagne it is not seen how
the Germans can long stand along the
Aisne Continued French pressure be-
tween the Disc and the Serre precludes
this. The French have drawn their
forces close to Rethel from both east
and west and the fall of this impor-
tant pivot on the Champagne front
necessarily will be followed by Ger
, man withdrawal to the French from
tier.
MI 90
the west of the Mouse have come in
for hard seven
Yankee Forces in days fighting.
The resistance
Hard Fighting. which they are
encountering to the north of the Ar
gonne is tremendous. German pris-
oners declare that the German COM
mand is using masses of its best forces
against the Americans, for. in con-
junction with the French, the Yankees
bring grave menace to the German
positions along the Mezieres-Sedan-
Montmedy-Metz front. Should the
offensive on large scale they have it
within their power to iron out all of
the German positions intervening be-
tween their present line and the main
German defensive positions in this re-
gion, but twelve miles away, and bring
immediate danger of invasion Of Ger
many between Luxembourg and the
Swiss frontier.
Owing to the great results which
may be achieved by such successful
operation, military critics in London,
Paris and Washington are as a unit
in declaring that Field Marshal Foch
will deliver his next great major Of
fensive in this direction.
The French to the north Of Grand
Pre- have advanced far ahead of the
Americans, and a movement eastward
in the direction of the Mouse will ma
terially assist Gen. Pershing's men in
forcing their way over the terrible
natural obstacles which confront them.
Once the Germans are ousted and the
allies begin q turning movement, the
whole German line to the Swiss border
will be in imminent peril At the same
time such plans as the Germans may
have to stand on the Antwerp, Brus-
sells. Nezieres line will fade. Should
the allies invade Germany from the
region Of Metz the Germans must
bring their armies operating to the
north back to the Rhine.
Although the German command may
have expected some respite during the