The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-10-12
HUN LINES ALONG
SUIPPECAVE WAY.
Retreat Before French More of
a Flight Than Orderly
Retirement.
AlSNE RAILROAD MENACED
Disc Valley Villages in Flames,
Indicating Further Aban.
donment by Foe.

The Germans have paused In their
flight before tho Anglo-American ad-
vance from the Cambrai-St. Quentin
line long enough to attempt stand
along the Selle river southwark from
the tip Of the allied wedge at lie
Catcau.
Momentarily, therefore, the line ap-
pears to be stationary along this front,
where the enemy has hastily dug in.
Field Marshal Haig, In his official re-
port today, did not mention any new
forward movement here.
The line is an extremely unstable
one, however. and the German defenses
are described as mere scratches on the
surface. There seems all probability
that the allied drive will be resumed
as soon as the guns and transport
catch up with the advanced elements
for a powerful push at the improvised
German positions.
The German lines along the Suippe
river. in the Champagne sector In
France, have collapsed. Progress made
by the French during the past day In
this part of the battle front would seem
to indicate that the enemy's retreat
northward is more of a flight than an
orderly retirement. French forces are
reported to have reached the Reitournc
river between Houdilcourt and Saut-St.
Remy. Houdilecourt Is less than four
miles east of Neufchatel. one of the
principal German bases back of the
Champagne front. This advance brings
the French up to within two and "A half
miles of the Aisne river and threatens
the railroad line that parallels that
stream. Further east the French
have not advanced so swiftly, but have
made good progress.
Near the Argonne forest Gen. Gou-
raud's men have swept northward md
are officially reported to be less than
two miles from Vouzicres. an impor-
tant railroad junction. They are near
Sugny and have almost reached Ma
chault.
French and Italians have moved rap
idly along the Chemin des- Danes and
northward from the Aisne. They have
reached the vinicity of Allies. which is
on the crest of the .idge between the
Ailette and the Aisne, southeast Of
Laon.
Blazing villages IN the valley Of the
Oise are reported In the official state
tseent of the French war office Issued
last evening. This refers to The section
in the vicinity Of La Fere. where the
first German retirement was reported
yesterday. These fires are looked upon
as evidence that the enemy is prepar-
ing to abandon that region, as well as
the high wooded massif of st. Gobain,
to the south.
East of st. Quentin and Cambria, the
French. British and Americans are still
moving eastward.
Between Lens and Doual the British
are sweeping forward over a wide front
and have moved up to within striking
distance of Douai and Lille.
From the Argonne forest eastward to
the high ground east of the Meuse the
American army has broken the Griem-
hide line.
German resistance here has been dcs-
perate and the fighting east of the
Meuse has also been of the most siren
uous character.
Allied troops have been attacking the
Austrian positions in the mountain Sec
tor of the Italian front. This fighting
appears to have been merely n local
operation. but the combat has appar-
emily been severe.