The Washington herald., 1918-10-12

Clearing Northern France.
The clearing OF Northern France Of
the invaders under the terrific pres
sure OF Foch's armies is in full prog
ress The retreat is spreading north
ward, though the enemy is expected
to cling TO Lille, his northern pivot,
as long as the utmost risk allows It
Pershings army, as much as any
of the forces pressing the foe along
the Western battle line, helped bring
It about Tonight the last German
is out Of the Argonne forest, and all
the way from the east Of Rheims to
the Neuse and beyond that river,
north of verdun across the Lorraine
heights TO the Nioselle, thence down to
Alsace, American troops hold the
whip hand. Their smashing attacks
west Of the Meuse of the last ten
days, coupled with the German fear
of what may momentarily happen on
the Metz and Alsace fronts, kept what
remains of the flower Of the German
army pinned down there TO parry the
threat Of an invasion of the empire
Breach In Line Effective.
That enabled the British and Amer
leans and French in the north TO reap
the full fruits Of their break through
Haig's Anglo-American forces are
plunging eastward through the Cam
brai-St Quentin gap. The French, on
their right, are driving toward Guise,
twenty-five miles nofIh Of Laon, 70
cut off one Of the main lines o. Ger
man retreat This city Is comparable
to what Fere-en-TaUoenois was in the
second Marne battle, and TO Roye in
the allies Picardy drive that wiped
out the Montdi1'er pockets.
While Anglo-American troops today
pushed eastward from lie Cateau and
widened the breach. capturing st
Hilaire-les- Avesnes and st,
Auheter. Gen. Debeny's French army
crossed the Oise at several points in
it, southeastward drive toward Guise.
Move Forward In south.
At the same time Mangin. Gouraud
and Pershing, the triumvirate Of gen
erals entrusted with the task Of crush
ing the southern German flank, pushed
ahead materially. The French north
Of Rheims put themselves in complete
control Of both banks OF the Suippe
River, eliminating that stream as a
German hope for a stand, and cap
tured Bertricourt
Due south of Laon, against the apex
OF the pocket, italian contingents are
fighting with the French and are dis
tinguishing themselves by their valor.
Courtecon and Troyon have been cap
tured in that sector, and this Franco
Italian advance was the immediate
signar to Ludendorff"s beginning Of
the evacuation of Laon-
French Take Grand Pre-.
London, Oct. l1-Grand Pre-, the i'm
portant railway town at the bend Of
the Aire River, . miles northwest OF
Verdun. has been entered by the
French, according to latest news from
the southern battle front American
troops, who cleared the Argonne for
est, are approaching the outskirts Of
the city from the east. Berlin off,
cially admits a withdrawal Of the Ger
man front on a 17-mile line, ito the
rear" of Grand Pre-.
The Germans are relinqUishinC their
hold on the northern part of the
Chemin des Danes and are believ ID
to have begun the evacuation of st
Gobain.
In the last two days the Americans
have taken nearly 5000 prisoners in
their steady advance between the Ar
gonne and the Meuse.
The Germans counter attacked vain
ly last night and this morning in the
Aire Valley.
Berlin Cvia 1ondon), Oct. 11.-Today's
official statement says:
1--WE withdrew according to plan, un-
disturbed by the enemy between st.
Etienne and the Aisne, to the rear Of
Grand Pre-.
''On the east bank Of the Meuse vain
American attacks between Sivry sur
Meuse and Hammont Wood were
beaten of"