Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-11

Paris, Oct. II D. mThe grip
! of the Germans on northern France has
been loosened and the process OF herding
them back tn their borders Is proceeding
at an increasingly rapid pace under the
allied lash Already, since the beginning
OF the july offensive. which initiated
tho loosening process the allies have
pushed the enemy back n maximum of
g. miles, from the Ancre near Albert,
10 the Tip Of the present Anglo-Arnericaii
wedge at Lc { teau
4 i ant - miles more will bring them
on this line TO the Belgian frontier south
OF Maubeage But long before that
point is reached the pressure on all sides
If continued at the present rate will have
resulted IN the clearing oi the enemy
from virtually all French territory and
great part of Belgian soil. The Ier-
mans already are carrying out general
retreat
General l.udendorf patiently has been
desirous oi withdrawing to shorter
line where he could reorganlze his forces.
But the steady, unrelenting pressure
which Marshal Foch has applied all long
the front has made il impossible foT hinl
10 dotaeh himself for such an operate J
He cannot break contact with his ad-
versarv. as he would like to do, and
consequently is obliged to fall back slow
", fighting hard and losing heavily IN
his backward course.
Last nights developments and those
| of today along the wide battle front
/ only served to accentuate the extent oi
| the German retreat and the acceieration
/ OF Us pace The official reports rese Al
! the British and the Americans cooper
ating with them still widening the great
! wedge in the German line southeast oi
I Cambria, process in which the French
! to the south are aiding notably.
General Petaln : troops have pushed
to the river Disc To a point almost as
far north as Glnse whcr they JON with
the British and Americans who are rapid
" nearing the important railway June
ton of Nassigny, south and east OF La
i Cateau.
This sensational drive in the center
/ is matched In efficacy. however, by tin
terrific pressure Of the French armies
south OF laon and along the line norii
OF the Aisne and IN Champagne. TIM
movement, IN conjunction with the driv,
to the north, is. according 10 to-day 5
advices. making il inevitable that tn
Germans retire from Laon and the greaf
st. Gobain mas9l The withdraw al
indeed. appe.rs To be under Way her
Us elsewhere.
The Americans are with the frencl
in applying the pressure IN the an
pagne and the American first army
in its drive IN the Argonne area, ha
Joined with PetAns troops at Crane
Pre- Farther east the strong line OF
which the Germans stood TO resist tn
American drive west OF the Meuse i
trembling under the blows Of Pershings
troops. and further advances by tn,
American forces are expected
On the far northern end OF the battl
line the Anglo-Belgian forces appar
entity are being held in leash 10 thrus
again for 4 closing Of the pocket III whiel
Douai nov l. enclosed, together with tn
great manufacturing city ot Lille. a
soon as the northeastcrly thrust OF tn
British First, Third and Fourth armle
has progressed to the desired point
The Germans in the Lens area, however
are not waiting FOR tins trap 10 be sprung
and are continuing their Withdrawal
from that part Of the pocket, whiel
IS tn" one most immediately threatened
Battlc front reports indicate al q
p.ctancv there that move by III
Germans 10 evaeuate Douat IS imml
nent.