Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-09
CONTINUED ALLIED GAINS
PLEASE CHAIRMAN HURLEY
Capture OF Lens Will Release I'M
portant Coal-NIining Center in
Northern France,
TAKING OF LILLE IMPORTANT
Every Yard Gained by Allies Lighters
War Burden of United States ivy
Increasing Available Shipping
Tonnage.

W,ASHINGT0N. September s.-Every
yard Of the allied troops advance on
the western front, especially TO and be-
yond the llindenburg line. makes light
the war While no capital has greater
or higher hopes of AN early military
decision mat VIII be nothing short of
than Washington. the economic vic
tories that are being registered almost
daily by the recovery Of terrain from
immediate interest to high officials
here who are playing large part in
the winning of the war.
Chairman Edward NJ Hurley. of the
United states Shipping Board, finds a
real and telling victory almost daily In
French troops. The lines "a they creep
forward and envelop n town or a dis
trict spell more to him than to the pa
the demonstration of the courage and
superiority of the allied troops and the
master strategy Of Generalissimo Foch.
victory over the German arms.
The German high command. which
made the supreme effort and sacrifice.
at the reckless expenditure OF the lives
Of their troops, to gain tho territory
which they are now sullenly evacuat-
Ing. now put forward the false claim
that the reconQuered territory, and
that lying just beyond the present Ger
man line. is so withercd by the fame
Of battle and barren OF resource ais TO
be OF no value to themselves or the
allies.
Chairman Hurley. faced by the stu
transport the army of 100000 Amer
leans to France. to support that army
and TO supply food and munitions to the
for the allies in almost every foot OF
reconqucrcd territory. no matter how
the Huns have laid 1t waste.
ready. been accomplished. is only a mat
ter OF a few days. and that will bring
the coal, bearing lands OF the territory
release of shipping now employed to
transport coal from Wales to France
necessity that arose through the oc-
France.
GERMANS WILL TRY TO
DAMAGE COAL MINES
There is no doubt that the Germans
VIII make every effort to innict the
mines, which they have been operat-
ing for their own benefit; but the coal
deposits cannot be destroyed. and there
Will be coal at hand for the French
and allied troops and for the war needs
or the French government when Lens
is once safely within the allied lines
Tne tonnage now engaged in carry
ing coal to France will be reduced and
the ships SO released will mean greater
strength TO the overseas fleets of Amer
lea, England and France and make
easier the transport of troops and sun
plies from the United States to the seat
OF war on the westerns front
Not far back of the Hindenburg line.
and In the direction pointed by the
wedges now being hammered home by
heids, natural centers of war Industry
and OF railway communications If
me h too; as seems probable. fall Into
present drive. one of the greatest prob
t lem OF the war will have been solved
Tor the allies and it's burden thrown
II
VIII have to lengthcn its lines OF com
m5 m! already severely harassed
VIII mark the first great failure Of
their well-laid plans of conquest since
p rnG,r army snd w Vas, io9sed upon an unpre-
Man power has not been the one
great problem OF the war. The aid OF
s M,mrreea S, stffength in wealth and re-
fi e han w pns a., single ,ba division in the
Frame Of oeGin u pat had deprived
resources: because the submarine cnm
palen had hampcrcd England in bring
ing In raw materials from overseas. and
because the man power Of France in
her industries had been depleted in tho
projection of her life.
Now the situation is rapidIy chap,
ing. America Is furnishing the man
power ISs s,b needed for the fighting forces:
conqaePed r' Franc are can graduniy being
her lighting lines men TO dig FOR coal
a an IRON. 20 man war industries and To
been Inc meiius, and the tonnage that has
, 1911 SUPPLYING the necessary raw ma
teriais Will tie released for the longer
routes, or trade that viii bring ample
senpiies OF food and war material from
lies, and Will permit the Unitcd S.a,as
20 ,nusoand her resources for her own
home. e Peopio de
The taking OF Lille will be- the mas
yer stroke or this alI-important eco
n noti'i &c, E, or the present campaign.
oihcials in Washington will be rerard.
ere as Grent and hnal a victory as the
Which II Wit disaster to Germany
before. IMAM ever