The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-10-02

The towns of Menin and Roulers
railway functions in Flanders, have
been set on fire by the Germans in
face of the advancing Belgians, Brit
ish and French troops. French guns
now control the railway line running
from Ostend, through Thourout and
Roulers to Courtrai.
British monitors are cooperating
actively in bombarding German line
on and near the coast.
Belgian forces, strongly opposed, are
making headway toward Roulers and
Menin. The Germans are preparing
to evacuate the Lille region. British
armies around Cambria are success
fully fighting one of the fiercest bats
ties of the war. General Berthelot is
driving the enemy back between
Rheims and the Aisne and General
Gouraud has rea ched Channerange. the
important railroad center at the west
ern opening of Grand Pre- gap.
Shakes Whole System.
st. Quentin's fall shakes the whole
German system. It's effect will be
widespread. This will be accentuated
by the strong push that is being made
in the upper Disc valley. The allies
here are across the multiple water
ways upon which the enemy so largely
based his defenses. Before them lies
the open country. which is ideal for
tanks.
Under the circumstances the holding
by the crown princes armies of their
positions on the Ailette and the Aisne
is out of the question. Outflanked
from the north and harried by Gener-
al Mangin, who is now along the Aisne
princes armies are in a much graver
position than were those of Generals
Won Boehn and Won Hutier on the
Marne and the Avre in July The
same danger threatens the armies op-
posing Gouraud.
Thus the first logical result of the
capture of ST. Quentin must be the re-
treat of the enemy from the Loannois
and Champagne sectors if he wishes
to escape disaster. But it will not be
enough that their line breaks up
under the blows of the allies. A gem
eral German retreat becomes more
and more imperative. The problem
for General Ludendorff is how to pre-
vent it from being converted into a
disaster which is the usual sequel
of a retirement of masses closely en-
gagged in a formidable struggle.
Cambrai Mined.
Cambria has been mined but the
British forces have fought around the
town and thus have foiled the plans OF
the enemy. The Germans decided on
1 to burn Cambrai and
forced the civilian population to leave.
WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN
Tuesday, Oct 1.-Three
French armies won important success.
es today. While General Debeny's
forces were passing through st. Quen-
tin to Rouvroy, across the Somme,
General Berthe1ot's army made a big
gain on the ST. Thierry massif, north
west Of Rheims. Further east Gener-
al Gouraud's army advanced still fur
ther north toward vital German posi-
tions.
General Berthelot's men have vir.
tually trayersed the hills between
Rheims and the Aisne. On that
river they hold the left bank as far
east as Concevreux and have taken
Hervelon, Trigny and
st. Thierry. They are also in La.
Neuvillette, a mile and a half north.
west of Rheims.
Gourand Launches Attack.
General Gourand, attacking alon1 his
whole front in the Champagne sector,
advanced north of Azure to within q
yards of Liry. Further east,
even more important results were OBJ
tanned in his advance north Of Bou.
conville and Binarville. His line was
pushed on to Vaux and Lancon, thus
the Grand Pre- gap. and put
ting the German forces west OF the
line into q most
awkward position.
Their communications with the forces
operating in Argonne forest and east
Of it are virtually cut. which means
that this region becomes untenable.
German counter attacks in the region
south OF Liry were repulsed with Sc
we're losses to the enemy otter sharp