Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-10-15
Evidence That Germans
Are Preparing to Evac.
uate All Belgium.
ALLIES CONTINUE
RAPID ADVANCES
Germans Putting Up Stout Resistance
at Points in Endeavor to Save Re-
treating Armies From Annihiiation--
Lille and Oouai Soon to Fall-Posi.
ton of German Armies in Flanders
p 10 criticaI-Portion May Be Cut OF.
[By the Associated Press. I

BY the Associated Press.
In Flanders and from the Oise
to the Meuse the allied troops con-
tinue their vigorous blows for i'm
portant gains. As the French
press on in the Laon-Aisne region,
the allied offensive in Belgium and
the American operations west Of
1.-The Meuse are being renewed to-
day with success.
Smashing their way thru <he
network Of railways in western
Flanders, the Belgian, French and
British forces under King Albert
ns~ are within two miles of the
raj.
The allies also dominate with
their guns the railway from Lille
to the Belgian coast by way Of
Courtrai and thus hamper, IL they
have not cut off all communica.
tion between Ostend and Lille.
Tho German resistance in Elan.
ders appears to be only for the
purpose Of delaying tho Allies un.
I'll Tho evacuation Of Belgium can
be completed. The enemy is re.
ported to be evacuating Ostend
and to be sending large boatIoads
Of troops from the coastal regions.
Between the Disc and the Ar
sonne the French are pressing tho
enemy hard.
East Of the oise the French are
within a half mile Of tho Serte
along most Of its length and have
advanced between five and six
miles from laon.
Ever-the Aisne is fast being lost
by the enemy as means Of de.
fense. The French now threaten
Rsthel, having captured Nanteuii-
sur -Aisne, two and one half miles
from Rethel and about tho Same
distance east Of Chateau Porchein.
Keeping step with the American
operations east Of tho Argonne.
tho French are moving forward
west Of the forest. West Of Grand
Pre- General Gouraud has moved
north to tho Aisne and taken the
town Of oIizy and Termes, straight
tening out bulge in the allied
line.
Between thine Arsonne and the
Meuse the Americans are battling
forward today thru the German
wire entanslsments. Tanks have
been brought up, especially in tho
region west Of Ho1,asne. As on
Monday the Germans are resisting
stubbornly, but satisfactory prog.
ress 10 being made.
The progress made against the
Germans on the first days Of tho
Flanders offensive seem 70 indicate
Il 10 possible for tho allies TO press
eastward and outhank both the
submarine bases to tho north and
tho whole German limo to tho
south.
A glance at the map shows tho
submarine bases arc in great dan.
ger az the allied advance carries
The allied line nearer and nearer
j. to Ghent.
Il /. rumorsd along the British
front In Flanders that British
monitors have entered ostend. but
this report 10 without confirmation.
n this 10 true Il 10 possible to land
forces behind the Germans holding
the line Of Thourout and the sea.
South Of lthe now break in the
German lines the Germans have
boon in . serious position for some
time. Lille has been in danger from
the south and this new attack
threatens to outflank the city from
(, ~. ncrth. Should this occur Lille
probably will fall, and with its fall
Douaj is certain TO be involved.