Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-13

oeen IN Such great danger-not mill
'a .1f' put Observation-Disclosures 1914.
around a green table," the newspaper
says, 1.-The Austro-Germans will en-
pIoy loaded dice and win the game.
which will result in another war
within twelve years.
Field Marshal Foch evidently did
not hear of Germany's peace talk dur
ing the week. At
E0ch'S Blows least he chose to
-, vrr.,4 rx give answer to
oA west FROM. the Teutons bv
smashing their armies at all sections
OF the western front with a fury
which brooks, no Illustration of pur-
pose. The notable achievements mark
ing the eek's-.developments on the
western battle front follow:
First, the loosening of the Germans
grip on the Belgian coast, making it
imperative that they eventually retire
from the naval bases they have es-
tablished there.
Second, the tremendous blows of
armies between St.
Quentin and Cambria which succeed
ed In demolishing the Wanted Hin
denburg line and enabled the allies to
press home a salient in the German
line, which eventually will force re-
adjustment both north and south, if
not spell the doom of immediate Ger
man occupation of France
Third, the liberation of Rheims by
the heroic armies of Gems. Debeny,
Barthelot and Gouraud.
F~r
French and American forces in the
Argonne and the Champagne, bring
ing immediate menace to all east and
west German communications and
thereby bringing nearer the complete
evacuation of the Laon salient
and furiously during the past seven
days. There has been no let-up at
any point from Flanders to Verdun.
In the Flanders area the Belgian adj
vance tarried early in the week, but
it had progressed to such a point that
ward in constantly increasing force.
A further short advance of the Bel
gian armies will bring the immediate
evacuation of the German-held terri
tory.
The Belgian advance created the
northern side of the salient which
has it's apex in the region of Douai
and through the tremendously impor-
tant successes of the British and
Americans to the south leaves Ger
precarious position. where they may
be cut off or enveloped by either a
north or south advance of allied
armies.
There was no installing the power
of the Anglo-American drive from
east of st. Quentin. Through con-
stantly increasing impetus the Ger
mans were put to headlong fight UNI
til today it is doubtful where they
will be able to make a stand. The
German artillery and infantry moved
back so swiftly that it was difficult
for the allied armies to keep in touch
over a thirty-mile front. French
forces operating in the region Of St,
Quentin extended their gains east
centuating the salient which has
Laon as its apex and bringing graver
menace to the Germans operating in
this region.
X X
the French began hanimering on the
western end
French Gain on Of this impor-
Chemin des Danes. ica1 bigbwsx
and defense of Laon and their steady
progress was so consistent that the
German withdrawal became more
marked. When Gen. Berthelot's armies
began smashing northward from
Rheims and passed the Aisne and the
junction of the Aisne and the SuipDe.
storming the heights. from which the
y1f
stream of shells into Rheims for years.
the peril of the Germans became so
great that wide evacuation of the
Chemin des Danes positions began.
Early in the week this same advance
of Gen. Berthelot, coupled with the
striking gains of Gen. Gouraud in the
Champagne, forced tie Germans to
retire completely from the Rheims
salient, which was about thirty miles
across and eight miles deep. The pres
ent battle line to the north of Rheims
is almost due east and west.
Americans aided the French in the
operations in the Champagne and a
series of Importantly positions were
s:ained. The Americans between the
Mouse and the Argonne storme0 sew
eral important German positions and
penetrated the Kriemhild line. and
after effecting union with the French
to the westward swept into Grandpre
and now dominate the vale by this
name. The Germans chief line of
communications runs north and south
instead of east and west, enfi this is
an important factor in predictirs, that
wide retirement from the I.aon sec
tor. as we'll as in the Champagne,
cannot Re long deferred. If at all.
struck forward, developing their
gains Of last week and reaching Sivy
and Chaune wood. Gen. Pershing is
slowly driving northward in this
the German prepared line of defenses
it is Immediately possible that a
thanking movement directly to the
east, coupled with an advance from
the front. will be directed against
Metz, with the object Of wrestling
this strong citadel from the Germans
There is not a single point along
the western front today where the
Germans can expect to rest in Sc
gone. Such defenses as have been
erected behind them. even in Bel
GUM. are comparatively weak, and II
the allies can take the strongest Ger
man defenses it is but simple con-
clusion when one says the Germans
eventually must retreat to the Rhine
During the remaining four or five
allies will not lessen their blows in
the least. It is certain they will drive
to the utmost limits in order to
demoralize the enemy as much
as possible and lower the already
weakened morale OF German troops,
Continued on Fourth Page)