The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-10-04
AUSTR|ANS LOSE HEAVILY
naval BASE DESTROYED

IS due primarily to the brilliant work
done in that region during the past
week by the Americans, whose dash
led to the encirclement of the town.
The British also regained Seque.
hart, which they lost to the counter.
attacking Teutons yesterday.
King Albert's valiant little army
and it's British comrades under Gen
eral Plumer are withstanding terrific
German counter-attacks and are fight
ing their way forward toward the I'm
portant bases Of Turcoing and Cour-
trai.
Late this evening front dispatches
report indication the Germans are re-
moving the civilian population from
Lille, the northern hinge Of the Hin
denburg line.
Berlin asserts officially Lens and Ar
mentieres were abandoned Tuesday
evening, and appends to this an
nouncement Ludendorffs pet phrase
in hours of admissions Of defeat "un-
noticed by the enemy"
The German ens-Armentieres re-
treat already has reached depth Of
nearly five miles.
In their retirement from st. Quen-
tin the Germans removed all the in
habitants. When the French troops
entered the town there were no ci-
villains to be found.
The Germans are shelling St. Quen-
tin.
In an attempt to stay French prog
ress between the Son1me and the Disc
in the st. Quentin area, the Germans
are bringing up fresh troops and in
creasing the violence Of their artil
lery fire.
French Smash Huns.
Paris, Oct. 4.-French troops cap
tured $500 Germans in an important
advance northwest of the Somme river,
the war office announces. They have
occupied the crest of Mont Branc. Cor
mey, northwest of Reims, has also
been captured.
Around St Quentin and south toward
LIE Fere, north of Reims, and eastward
in the Champagne, the French have
broken into the German main line de-
fenSes at several places.
Following the general assault along
this great front Wednesday the French
under Debeney, Mangin and De Gout-
te resumed the advance and drove for
ward, meeting with great defensive re-
sistance and many counter-attacks.
These reactions, according to official
statements and battle front dispatches,
gained the enemy nothing save heavy
casualties.
Drive Through Line.
Just to the north of st. Quentin the
French drove through the Hindenburg
positions, in some places going as far
as two miles through wire, trench line
after trench line, and machine gun en-
placements. The Crozat canal has
been reached aGi crossed at one point,
while several small villages in this
region have 1een cleared of the enemy,
South Of St. Quentin troops of the
same army rushed the Hindenburg
line and gained important positions,
which make the German hold on Nov
and LIE Fere dubious.
North Of Reims the French have
taken Loivre, in the old Hindenburg
system. This village lies only about
two miles west Of Fort Brimont, from
which the Germans have shelled
ReimS.
Take Railway Center.
In the Champagne, to the east, Mar
shall Foch's troops captured the impor.
tant railway and highway points of
Challerange This and other gains In
this vicinity give access to the Grand.
pre- gap and command the valley of the
Aisne to the north.
Fires In villages far to the north
In this region indicate 1t is the enemys
intention to retreat.
One report reaching Paris is that
the Germans are evacuating civilians
from many towns in A1sace. When the
French entered st. Quentin it was
found the Germans had carried off all
the French civilians Of that city.
GREAT HINnENRIIRG ARMED