The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-10-18
OsTEND, D0UA|,
AND LILLE TAKEN
FROM ENEMY
Whole German Defense East Of
Meuse Is In Peril.
MANY CITIES LIBERATED
Americans Meet Strong Resistance on
Argonne Front--Nowherc is
Enemy in Disorder.

Paris, Oct. 1S.-Lille, Douai and Os-
tend, three great cities, have been de-
livered from the enemy This is the
most glorious day Tor the allies since
the battle of the Marne, and it fitting
ly terminates a wonderful battle OF
three months which was opened by
Gen Mangin's victorious counter-of-
fensive. July 49, Many cities have
been liberated and hundreds of square
miles of territory have been taken.
Victory in Belgium is not all. The
British about Lecateu have broken in
TO German positions and are now
threatening the Hun line. The who'e
German defense system east of the
Meuse is in peril. The road to Brus-
sells is Open French and Belgian
armies are advancing rapidly toward
Bruges and Ghent. Ostend's capture
makes it possible to land reinforce
ments and throw powerful reinforce.
ments against the extreme right OF
the Germany army.
London, Oct 17-Over a front of
forty niles, from the North sea In
Belgium to Lille in northern France.
the Germans are in general retreat
before the Belgian, French and Brit
ish armies. likewise the enemy is
being forced TO concede defeat by re-
trograde movements before the Brit
ish and Americans southeast of Cam
brai under the attacks of the French
in the pocket between the Oise and
Serre rivers north of Laon and by
reason of continued strong attacks
by the French and Americans in
Champagne and along the Meuse
river.
Nowhere, however, is the enemy in
disorder In Belgian Flanders his
steps are being hastened by reason of
the swift drives into his line by the
British at Lille. just south of the Bel.
gian border, and by the French and
Belgians further north. which threat.
en- to compel him to enter Dutch ter
ritory and face internment unless he
is feet enough to withdraw out of the
entire pocket between the Scheldt
river and the sea and reconstitute his
line with its right wing resting in
Antwerp
Ostend, one OF the famous subma-
rine bases on the sea, is in British
hands, Bruges is all but captured
while to the south from the region
east OF Roulers. the allied forces are
fast driving toward Client in an en-
deavor to seal the western Flanders
sack and retain in it large elements
OF the enemy's forces. Strong op
position is being offered on the Cour
trai sector to prevent the allies from
carrying out their maneuver to tho
full. More than a score OF additional
villages have been liberated by the
allied troops and numerous guns and
quantities OF stores have been cap
tured.
The greatest resistance is still be
ing imposed against the efforts of tn,
French and Americans in Cham
pagne and along the Meuse river
where the holding of the line is es
sential to stave off general retrea
by the Germans all the way from Bel
GUM to the Swiss frontier TIL,
French in Champagne are still fight
Ing hard to capture Rethel. but tn,
Germans thus far have been able 4,
hold this important position Nortl
OF Grandpre both the French ant
Americans have made further Pre-
gress over the difficult ground. Espc
cially severe have been the hardship
suffered by the Americans in encon
passing the natural Notifications an
the attacks by hordes of eemy ma
chine gunners. Before the American
the Germans are giving ground onl
inch by inch.
Paris, Oct. 1S.-The Germans hav
begun a new retirement mOyemen
between Laon and Cambria, It is OIL
cially announced The French. az
vancing from Achery and Choignl
are pursuing the German rearguard
Angulcourt has been occupied by IN
French. In the Argonne region tn
French have crossed the Airne nea
Vouziers. The fighting continues
the area west Of Grand Pre-.