Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-10-17
entire GERMAN LIN:
is SHAKEN BY ALLIED
VICTORY I'M BELG|UF |
London, Oct. u, rs p. m-Lle, the Ger
man base in Northern France has been captured
by the British. Information of the capture #

Lille was received from
the Flanders battle field
this afternoon. Lille had
been held by the Germans since tire
autumn of 1914, when Won kiuck's
German hordes over ran Belgium and
northern France on that sweep. Tie
taking of Lille is one of the most im-
pOrtant captures made by the allies
since the German offensive WAS
launched against the Germans in mid
summer.
The whole German line is sinking
by this new Allied victory.
Lille lies thirty miles, from the
coast and is a city of great import
ance, owing to the great number Of
roads there Seven railway lines run
into Lille and about that score of high.
ways.
The Germans have been using it a
base OF operations and supplies since
the early days of the war.
At one time the British were with.
in eight miles of the city, but it was
not until the new offensive on the
Flanders front that the place was
doomed.
Ostend Is Taken.
London, Oct 17.--4British avators
in conjunction with naval forces, land
ed in Ostend, German submarine base.
this morning, 1t was officially an.
nounced this afternoon.
Advance at verdun
With the American Army northeast
.cf Verdun, Oct l6 -- Fighting their
way forward, foot by foot, in heavy
rainstorm and under a never ceasing
torrent of machine gun bullets, the
Americans advanced nearly two miles
northwest Of Verdun today. Without
any artillery preparation the Amefi-
cans forded the Airs river and in the
face of CALLING fire from enemy ma
chine gun nests advanced east If
Grundpre to the northern edge of the
t}ois de Legue, three kilometers n0rh
Of Chevieres. The Germans stub
bornly contested every foot OF the
ground.
Nsw Advance Started.
The British have begun a new drive
today on a front Of between 10 L
miles southeast of Cambrai.
Satisfactory progress was made n
the first drive.
The new assault between Goha'n
and LeChateau has started and II IS
possible that Americans are talk 3
part in the fighting, in this localrr
On the Flanders front the BriUia1
have entered Courtrai an imp0r 1T
German base on the Lys river and It
Is believed that the important Pot-
gium town O. Thielt is about to fall
In the fighting on "Wednesday tie
French took Ardoye, 5 miles west II
rhielt and it is presumed that the p d
vance troora pushed ahead Of G
main body.
1000 Prisoners Taken
II is unofficially stated that the
British, French and Belgium trocNs
on the Flanders front have taken
1900 prisoners. The Germans t"'l
back so swiftly that it was difficult 70
maintain fighting progress
Retreat on Sixty Five Mile Line d.
=. Rereat on Sixty.fve Mile Line
? Antwerp is Threatened
The Germans hold on the north sen
coast has been broken ard II is ao5'
, sihle that the Germans may tall .taNi
all the way thru Antwerp.
While the allies were fighting IN
the north the Americans made a new
attack west OF Verduu. fighting tEt
miles ANA widening the gap The
J American attack was carried ON In
stormy weather.
CrotIa Wants independence.
Basic. Oct 17-Crotia has decidoc
E to declare her independence by pro
claiming her separation from Hun
gary, said a dispatch today
Wilson Asks Vote Of Confidence.
Washington, Oct 1.-THE admins
< tration today invited vote Of caa.l
. dence on its foreign policy whri
Senator James Hamilton Lewis IN
q trodueed o resolution providing thn
the Senate indorse whatever cpursc
the President may follow In future
p dealings with Germany and Austria.
I'll rhn 1 nu-La rnanlllIInn la Ihn fir N.