The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-08-10
DECISIVE HOUR
MAY BE DRAWING
RAPIDLY NEAR
Hun May Have to Surrender
Flanders Bulge
AZ NESKlY
RETREAT NEARLY A ROUT
Enemy May Risk 9 Pitched Battle IT
He Can Bring upqReaervss Fast
Enough to Stem Retreat.

washington, Aug. Sine startllh6
rapidity OF the Brltish-French drive in
Picardy, coupled. withtnew successes
in Flanders and on the Vesle pro-
duced an impression among some otfi-
GERS tonight that one OF the decisive
moments of the war, perhaps the be-
ginning of the final battle, was rapidly
approaching. w to
On the basis of such reports as were
available, the German high command
seemed to stand face to face with
vital decision. Everywhere : his re-
serves must be rushed in and a pitch
ed battle risRed, or virtually all he has
gained at staggering cost in his great
est offensive of the war must be aban-
doned and general withdrawal toward
his old lines of last March begin with
out delay.
While no American troops are
known to be involved in the Picardy
thrust, the capture of Fismette, the
suburb across the river from Fismes'
on the Nesle, apparently is a part OF
the great general scheme OF attack.
Coupled with developments in Picardy
and Flanders, it indicates to many Off
GERS that Marshal Foch is definitely
challenging the enemy to fight 1t out
now or to withdraw.
The French and British have gone
ahead with such rapidity in Picardy
that the German retreat must have
reached the proportions OF rout, in
places at least. The extent of enemy
losses in prisoners, guns and war ma
teriaI bear out this view. The whole
bottom of the great Picardy salient
has been fiattened out in two days and
the enemy positions at Montdidier and
north of that place to the line of the
Disc appears already to have been
turned.
II he is forced to withdraw in haste
from this point. where one of his
strokes at Paris was directed, the last
menace to the French capital will
have been removed. officers here be
lieve such a withdrawal must be start
ed without delay il the German forces
on the Montdidier- Oise front are to be
brought off without being crushed.
The sudden stroke on the Lys line
in Flanders which General Haig
coupled with the Picardy drive today,
appears to make it clear that the
enemy is rushing supports from the
north to block the holes in this line
caused by the British-French thrusts,
In Flanders the front was found to be
lightly held and good results were OBJ
tanned in the sudden onslaught there.
This was of peculiar interest to
members of the British military mis-
sion here who have maintained that
the armies of the Bavarian crown
prince were being gathered opposite
the Flanders front in preparation for
new effort there to reach the chan
mel ports. The failure OF the German
drive on both sides of Rhims and the
crushing defeat OF the armies OF the
German crown prince which followed
with his election in two weeks fight
ing from the whole Marne salient
drew heavily on the reserves in the
north. II is regarded as certain now
however, that the mass of Prince Rup
precht's reserves must be rushed tC
the Picardy salient, even II the Fland
ers bulge is surrendered as a result.
With the British Army in France
Aug. 9-The scenes on the battle
ground over which the allies alread!
have passed gave evidence of haste II
abandoned guns, stores and evel
regimental and artillery maps ant
papers.
Observers report large streams o
transports and men hurrying east
ward in full retreat.
Bulcourt fell to the allied forces thi
morning and Lequesnel also was takel
after hot all night fighting.
The cavalry is working far back to
ward the Somme and is still roundini
up villages, while tanks and armorel
cars are running over the countr
clearing way for the troops or kill
ing horses drawing enemy supple,
The drivers OF motor trucks and loi
ries are chasing parties of German
here and there, scattering them O
running them to earth.