The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-10-03
Allied Advance Increases
Chances of Early Cap
ture of Lille
CITY EVEN NOW
BEING EVACUATED
Further Advance in Bel
gium Threatens German
Forces on Coast
tBy Asaoelated PreEa.,

On a front of 20 miles between
Armentieres and Lens the Germans
continue to retire from the salient
west Of the fortress of Lille. North
of st. Quentin the British again are
storming the German defense lines,
While in Champagne the FRENCH are
pressing northward threatening the
German communications.
Evacuation Of the Lille salient is
the dlrect result of the allied ad-
vances IN Flanders and around Cam
bral. The British are keeping close
at the heels of the Germans Who al
ready have retired an average OF two
miles, but there is no Indication OF
Wnere the enemy will stop or wheth-
er he will extend his withdrawal
movement 10 include the region OF
Doual and attempt TO form a straight
llne from Rou1ers through Lille and
Douai TO Cambrai.
Armentieres and part Of Lens an
pafently are held by the enemy hut
their fall TO the British probably Is
only a matter of few hours. With
Lens wholly in the hands of the
SritlHh and the German line moved
back to near Lille or beyond. tic
great coal fields in this district
which the Germans have defendad
I.enaclously for four years. VIII be no
t9Hser or use 10 them. In Flanders
the Belgian, British and Francb
continue their pressure ars inst tia
sIiitened resistance of the enemy.
The salient driven in by the allies
threatens the German hold on Bel.
GUM and an advance of perhaps ten
niles toward Client probably would
compel the enemy TO retire 70 the
northern Meuse line.
Lens And Armsntisres.
Berlin, Oct. S.-Yta I.ondon.--r ems
was evacuated by the Germans on
4uesday night, the war office an
hounced today. Armentieres was
evacuated the same evening.
Lens and Armentieres are the keyg
- ~ Ine great coal fields Of France in
the district OF Pas de Calais.
Armentieres has changcd hands
twice this year. 1t was captured f1v
the Iermans when they drove in the
1yB salient last April and now II
again falls into British hands.
BoLh towns were. manufacturing
centers, but the buildings ReneralIy
nave long since crumbled TO the ground
under the destructive FIRE OF many
thousands OF shells. Lille is less than
seven miles from Armentieres.
East of both towns the country Is
fairly open and the terrain is little
cut by hills and woods.
With the Germans out OF Lens the
allies have made the first important
step in the occupation OF the coal
fields about Lens. The great manu-
featuring district OF northern France
obtained it's fuel from this district, an
did Paris. The annual output before
the war was about 5000, 900 tona.
When the British left Armentieres
last April they deluged it with poison
gas and the Germans were not able
TO enter the town for several days. IE
Is not unlikely the Germans will at
tempt TO do the same with both Lsena
and Armentieres.
(Note: The city OF Lens was re-
ported taken by the British several
weeks ago. Later 1t was stated that
the report was premature, and then
a day or two later came a dispatch
telling OF the final occupation OF the
city. Since then no reference has
been made 10 IT, and It iH believed
that the Germans were still holding
some parts OF it until their evac ua-
tion today1