The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-03
Germany's Grip On France and Belgium Is Definitely Broken,
Great German Defensive Works, the Hin denburg Line, Practically Untenable,
 and German Problem Now Is to Get Away From the Allies


 Get Away From the Allies
 Washington, October 2.-The German grip on northern France and Belgium has been definitely broken Even the cautious military observers Washington agreed tonight that the Hndenburg line dsntegrang and officers centered their whole attention the efforts of the German leaders extcate their armies without crushing disaster Outflanked in Belgium the Champagne the great German defensive works the Hndenbug line already was becoming untenabe when Field Marshal Hags smashed through today just north of St. Quentin The immediate investment of the city by French troops and the swift widening of the breach coupled with the continued rapid progress of French Belgian and British forces in Bel it is thought here possibly the whole German scheme of retirement which already has begun on the Rheims front
 British penetration of the line, it said, furnish Marshal Foch with embarass the German retreat al with the possibility of precpitatng veritable rout
 A VAST TRAP
 Rmged by wall of victorious enemies the whole front from the North Verdun, the situation of the Germans is undoubtedly The drive in Belgium menacing vital communications side while Amer and French in the Champagne surgng for ward toward equally vital supply lines the other The battle line assuming the shape of trap thrung its jaws enguH the German armies
 The German leaders have their danger Official reports the state department today indicated that evacuation of sub marine bases the Belgian coast was imminent There also Rheims is well under way The question uppermost in the of officers here whether the German high from Paris that 2ooo prisoners were taken by Aisne rivers is significant of the difficulty of getting troops back safely out of an fighting line There has been the Berlin statements have characterised the withdrawal Only front involved yet 2000 left as rear guards, were captured
 STUPENDOUS TASK
 withdraw the whole 25Omie where the allied and stupendous With constantly increasing superiority the retreat will be difficult beyond the where the situation ap particularly critical Officers said that evacuation of the n M m sSe % in the @ s % Th supply of the Lille salient side while the steady northeastward positions south Doua aimed the other from the rapidly forming pocket Already the large along the British front the Lys the best lines of withdrawal are followed.
 of the Belgian line will draw the French Belgian triangle of towns long enough to permit them to out
 CRITICAL IN SOUTH
 To the south another critical situation developing I certain the officers here that the German leaders they hold about Rheims gradually strengthening shorten machine battle The British smash St Quentin however has opened the the valley the Iaere already encled sides by the French and the swift oI an attacking line along the flank of the o m ss bsy ss the high just that The French for some distance along ncdenay developing just east of Rheims that the enemy cannot dsregard and
 NEW ASSAULT PROBABLE It would ssa;e ;h s '1fpriss ,s here wholly
 sss fs @ the the s of 'h. e s t 5. w s. the through which the German retirement must carry them M es; The situation M on the Belgian coast brings again the old ton tonight whether might possible to force German sea coast batteries were being withdrawn |Alaban1a's Great Sl