Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-09
AMERICANS ARE MOVING
ON H|NDENBuRC LINE
RuSh Substantial Force To Hclp the
French i'm Thrust Between
Condo and Rheims.
SCHEME OF GENERAL BATTLE
Main Objective OF Combined Allied
Forces Is to Smash tho Strongest
and Vital Part OF tho Line mt St.
Quentin,

WASHINGTON. September S-Thc
news OF kccnest and most significant It
interest TO the army staff here is that
which reveals that there is forward
movement of French and Americans
evidently in great force. towards tho
southern end OF the Hindenhurg line
This offensive developed in single
night and at a place between Condo
and Rheims. where it was supposed for
the past ten days tho Germans were
already prepared to fail back on the
Hindcnburs line.
II now is apparent that when the
French and Americans drove the Ger
mans over the Marnc, near Dormans
and Possy. in July. heavy Gcrman II
forces remained until yesterday, when
they were attacked by the French and
the Americans. Incidentally. il is also
apparent that General PcrshinE has
distributed his aggregate forces along
thc,linc. either in the front ranks alone
the French and English instead OF
concentrating them. as alleged in ccr-
;ain news dispatches from WASHINGTON
Tor an aH-Amcrican drive at some new
point.
Army officers pointed out TO day that
thcre was only one new point. and that
fershing not only had a substantial
force there. but rushed up rc-enforcc-
mcnts from near at hand to the as
sistance Of the French and Americans
VINO began the thrust between Conde
ana khelmS. II is always the Amcri-
cans now. say the officers here with
pardonable pride. when new thing
Is, Is 10 be done There is. OF course. the
understanding that the new offensive
was oruered by General Foch to link
up that part of the Pershing and French
army in the Rheims sector with the
are heading for the HindenburC line
Win the ultimate view of concentrate
ing on 81. Quentin. The scheme Of the
l. The just-dcvelopcd assault on the
German army, holding the Rheims see
''o" The ri 'hS am liiindenbmGe crinin ,r linz lins
over the .\isnc TO Laon.
!" The French and English. whose
wNihEs have joined, pushing on towards
I. The British and Canadians forr.
ing ing ahead against n"uai and Cambrai.
ny 'ns n crossed the Somme and, in part.
the British and Americans in the old
Y pres sector.
MAIN DIRECTIVE NOW
IL no BREAK THE LINE
The main objective of the whole
moNement m oN is the breaking OF the
The fall OF Lille is the immediate
objective Q OF the movements of the
and north Of that city in " the 'pre YPres
sector
The continued advance OF the Brit
ish and Americans mcnacing Lille may
make it untenable by that nlan alone
hut staff officers say its canturs will
he inevitable if the Hindcnburg line
is broken at st. Quentin.
General Foch is using both plans
That is. the British are being sent for.
ward via Cambrai and Douai. and at
the same time the British are moving
southeast to connect with the French
and Americans pushing on via La Fcre
TO take st. Quentin in flank.
the Immediate operation which will
hold the stage for the next ten DAYS
is the master stroke OF General Foch
in having three great armies convcrc-
ing on st. Quentin. It's fall will par
alyZe the transportation system OF the
Germans and may force not only a
retreat but rout. because il the
Germans stand at st. Quentin and fight
to retain it, when they lose. the allies
should he in position to follow the
retreat necessarily.