Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-10-15
Foe,s Defense Crnrks.


With the British Army in Bel
GUM, Monday, Oct IA, 9 p. M
(By the Associated Press.) )- Enemy
resistance in Flanders which at
first appeared to be exceedingly
heavy, is reported to have been
hi oxen. After the British, French
and Belgium advance today there
were Indications that the enemy
was withdrawing the remainder Of
his material from the coast of Bel
GUM. Most significant OF all the
features of the battle was the fact
that the German coast batteries
were not firing.
The enemy artillery reacted
heavily south Of Roulers after the
allied attack was launched but
north of the city this fire was
slight, indicating that the German
guns had been Withdrawn or were
being taken back by the enemy.
The German rear guards were
overcome and further north the
enemy resistance gradually grew
lighter as the assault progressed.
Among the prisoners was a com
!
talon commander.
The enemy has begun blowing up
material which he could not re
move and the torch is being applied
to the towns that are being aban-
6oned by the Germans. There have
been four explosions near Beerst
British Enter Ostend, Report.
The fact that the coast batteries
are not firing has given rise 10 the
rumor that the British naval forces
are operating of the coast One
report says that Ostend which
seems bound to be evacuated by
the enemy. has been entered hy
British monitors There is no con
firmation Of these rumors.
Only a thin enemy barrage was
encountered by the British during
their attack. South Of Lichtervede
the British have driven well TO the
east They have passed through
Roulers and are still advancing.
They are also operating quite a dis
tance east OF the main Roulers
road.
ROulers Is Taken.
Paris, Monday, oct a. Boulers
has been taken by the allies. This
city. which before the war number
ed 25.0OO inhabitants, is the first
important Belgian town from
" hich the Germans nave been
driven.
This morning on the annivers-
ary Of the battle Of Jena which
as fought Oct IA. 1906 the battle
famed up along the Flanders front
and the first days progress gives
reason for high hope
Under the command Of King AL
bert Of Belgium. the British, Bel
gian and French armies attacked
al 5:35 O'Clock. There was NO ar.
t.llery preparations but the troops
advanced under cover Of creeping
curtain OF fire Of extreme power.
To the French. in the center of
the line. fell the honor OF capturing
the city OF Roulers and the plateau
/ covering H.
10 00O Prisoners Captured.
Neary ten thousand prisoners
have already been counted and
large amount Of material and many
guns have ben taken. Mention also
must be made Of two batteries.
which we're taken with the horses
attached 70 the guns. This shows
that the methodical withdrawal OF
the Germans. Of which they will not
fail 10 speak In the reporting OF
: the battle. could not be accom-
p.ished German reserves which
attempted 90 hurry up 20 the front
line did not escape the keen eyes
Ct the allied aviators and gun
ners. One troop train was cut in
/ two by shells. When the occupants
Of the cars jumped out they We're
met and scattered by machine gun
/ fire from allied aYiators
The British navy and coast artil-
/ lery did excellent work In cooper
ating with the advancing infantry.
/ The Germans did not leave ROul-
ers without starting many hres.