Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-17
RUMORS RIFE
(By the Associated Prcss)


Unconfirmed rumors are in the air
that Germany has capitulated and
that Emperor William has abdicated.'
The rumors emanated from Dutch
and Swiss sources. but al yet the
German government has not official
~ informed either the Washington
or Landon governments Of its in
tention to concede in their entirety
the conditions for a cessation Of
hostilities as laid down by President
Wilson.
Meanwhile hostilities are proceed
ing without cessation, and as in days
past the forces of the Allies every
der where are defeating the enemy.
In Belgian Flanders. the British Bel
gian and French troops under King
Albert are sweeping forward for fur
Their material gains in the process Of
driving the invader from Belgian
: soil. On the front in France the
British, French and Americans are
hard after the Germans and are
making progress, although slowly,
Notwithstanding the strenuous de-
| fence that is being offered.
Both in Serbia and Albania the En-
tente troops are Kidding the invaded dis
. tricts of the Austro- Hungarian and Ger
man contingents. in Albania being we'll
to the north CT Dur. zzoz on the Adrat-
ic sea. and in Serbia considerable dis
lance beyond Nish, with the enemy fall
ing back toward the frontier of Austria
Hungary.
In the Palestine theatre the British
cavalry has driven farther to the north
and northwest Of Damascus, having
reached Tripoli, near the Mediterranean
coast 45 miles north of Beirut, ..nd
HONS. IS miles north of Damascus. BY
this mateuver there seemingly Is Great
ed for the Ottoman forces the menace
OF again bein,; caught between General
Aiienby's armies and crushed, as was
the case in the early days of the oifen-
sive in the region north of Jerusalem.
The maneuver also may forecast 4 new
drive by the British from the Bagdad
region to form a junction with General
Aienby at Aleppo and thus take the
HOLY Land in its entirety from the
! Turks
The great wedge Of the Allies in rla,-
ders Is being gradually extended cast
ward AL along the front of attack
| Thorout. at the head of the railway
reading to Bruges. and numerous vii.
cages to the south have been taken.
while Courtrai the junction point of the
| railway to Client, is almost entirely
surrounded. Large numbers of prison-
! ers and many additional guns have
peen captured by the Belgian. French
and British troops who are carryin..
out the operation.
To the south Of this region the Rrit,
ISL continue success .-ullv their MAJ
neuvers which has as it's objective
the capture of Douai and Lille and
the blotting out of the big salient
which is barring the way to NaIcn-
! ciennes and the German defense line
In that vicinity. Here the Germans
are continuing to withdraw, closely
followed by the British. who are
within IL miles and three and
three-quarter miles Of Lille respec-
lively southwest and went of the city.
In tie champagne region, where
the French and Americans are driv-
ing their way northward furthe.
good gamer have been made, not
understanding the furious efforts of
the Germans to hold their line. Reth-
ell. the important junction point for
the railways running to Mezieres and
and other points inside the enemy
held territory is all but captured By
the French. Eastward the Americans
also have again pressed slightly for
ward.