The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-10-03


Constantinople.
The French war office announces
the occupation of Uskub, In Mace
donIa, by French cavalry. Two hum
dred German prisoners were taken
there. A great quantity OF material
destined for the central powers was
lseized.
/ The evacuation of Belgium appears
to have begun with German retreat
on. the twenty mile front between
lArmentieres and Lens, which the
British are closely following up.
This retirement already has reach
ed a maximum depth of two miles.
THE Germans have given up strongly
organized positions which they nave
maintained ever since trench war
fare BEGAN and which rendered
portion of this sector the most thor
oushIy stabilized on the whole north
ern part of the west front.
The British pressing forward on
this front, are within about seven
miles of the important French indus
trial and communication center OF
Lille, the civilian population OF which
is already leaving under orders OF
the Germans. Armentieres has been
practically surrounded and its fall Is
expected hourly. The enemy Is re-
ported to be burning Roulers at the
apex of the Anelo-Belgian wedge far
Their north, which also has been near
iy encircied.
| Field Marshal Haig renewed his
attacks north of St. Quentin this
morning where yesterday the British
nearly effected a break through by
smashing a breach through the Beau
revoir1Fonsomme subsidiary defense
line. A counter attack yesterday
closed up the hole and won back the
village of Sequehart for the enemy.
Haig apparently is determined not
to permit the Germans to again con-
soIidate their position there.
The French continue to drive
ahead in the Champagne and west Of
Rheims. ChaIIeranse which forms
one of the Germans principal de-
lenses on the western fringe of the
Araonne forest has been captured.
General Berthelot is rapidly clearing
the enemy out 0: the angle formed
by the Aisne river and the Aisne-
Marine canal northwest of Rheims.
He Is now within five miles of Cra-
onne.
Dangerous Salient.
by ]. w. t. Mason, United Press
War Dxpert.l
NEW YORK, Oct 3.-Having aban-
doned the Hindenburg line between
Cambria and st. Quentin, the Ger
, mans now are compelled to try to
hold up their retirement for the mo-
, ment in this area, while they move
back their northern front to join
with the new alignment.
A dangerous salient exists between
Lens and Armentieres which sub
jects the Germans to heavy cross
fire and which is using UP Won Hin
denburgs sparse reserves. The line
, from Armentieres southwark must
quickly be brought to conform to the
new front between Cambria and st
Quentin as a measure of man power
economy, 1t is probable, however
that the kaiser will not abandon
Lille without severe struggle. The
loss to the German home morale
would be very acutely felt if thi!
great manufacturing center were tc
be wrested back by the allies.
Lille is SO close to the Belgian
boundary that it forms part of thu
: Franco-Belgian-Germa border. Fol
, this reason, the Belgians themselve!
J are beginning to threaten it by. theil
t moveemnt to cut off Ostend ant
: Bruges. This same operation, if sue
: cessful, will tend to outflank Lillt
: from the north and make rear at
e tack upon the city possible.
By their present withdrawal II
t the Armentieres sector, the German
g doubtless hope to be able to block
S quick Belgian advance further norti
r in Belgium, through the advantage
s which Won Hindenburgs defens
= will possess in holding a straight
a ened line.
o 1t is doubtful, however, whethe
= Won Hindenburg will succeed. HI
J, may secure new reserve OF $500
e men by shortening his front line ives
o of Lille, but this number ought no
to be sufficient to hold up the Bel
gian drive.
@ When the present German retire
e ment west of Lille comes to an end
r it will terminate the retreat in tina
n sector as far as Won Hindenburg
e able to control his own strategy an,
n cling to Belgian territory for TRADING
d purposes when peace is declared
d Thereafter any further retrograd
: movement will mean the beginning
t of the abandonment of Belgium ant
r direct march backward to Ger
;. many and the Rhone