Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-09-05
HUNS FLEE FROM
0uEANT BARRIER;
LENS CAPTURED
Four-Mile Advance by British on
20-MiIe Line smashes
the Foe.
AAIG'S men TAKE TOWNS

Germans Fail to React Heavily as
English Take Villages In Wotan De-
fense-Artiliery Actions Re-
/ ported on Somne River.
London, Sept. 4.-on a front Of
virtually SO miles, from just below
Ypres to point near Peronne on the
somme, the German armies are in re-
treat. The determined German re-
sistance at the cross roads north of
viIiers-!ez-cagnicourt was overcome
by the British and Haig's men are
now showing forward in the direction
81 Cambria. A strong British force
is driving forward on the northern
reaches of the Hindenburg line. The
British are we'll inside the Drocourt-
Queant line.
London. Sept 4.-Thc British have
captured the city of Lens. The town
Of Queant also has been taken. Lens
was evacuated by the Germans. the
BfltlSn moving IN.
More than 10000 prisoners were
taken by the British Monday. Addi-
donnl prisoners We're taken Tuesday.
The British also hold Doignles, Velu
and Bertincourt and Rocquigny, rep
resenting an advance to maximum
depth OF four miles on twenty-mfle
front
Situation Interesting.
Contrary to expectations, the enemy
has not reacted henvily with view
to the recapturc of the Queant-Dr0.
court line, but has left the British in
undisturbed possession of 1t.
The British found Diognies and Velll
unoccupied.
The situation In the southern part
Of the battlefield Is said to be extreme
ly interesting but nothing more can be
said for the moment.
Other Towns Taken.
With the British Army in Frahce
Sept. An heavy lighting beyond the
DrOcourt-Q -Queant line the British are
reported to have made further progress
on front of 1900 yards.
| The villages of Saudemont and Re.
court one and one-half miles from
Dury. captured Monday, are reported
taken.
The village of Etaing. two miles
north OF Dury, fell late Monday al
about the same time the British farth
er southwest were capturing Villers
ies-Cagnicourt. These captures were
effected after most bitter fighting.
Disaster to German Plans.
| The sensational breaking of the fa
nous Drocourt -Queant switch lins
after Il series Of important allied ad
vances with great captures Of mel
and material has made an immense i'm
preston here. While too great con
tidence that the success can be main
tnined is deprecated and while the ex
pectati0n is general that the enem,
will make the most desperate effort
to recover the position. the blow is re
garded as one of the worst disasters
inflicted upon the Germans during tn,
whole war and one which must caus,
their high command the deepest anx
tety
The belief is general that the switcl
liue Is the main system of German de
tense, and that there is nothing equal
ly strong behind it. Consequently it
loss, i: it becomes final, opens tn
widest possibilities.
Threaten Hun Pivot.
Paris, Sept. ARTILLERY actions OF
the SOInne front and farther south be
tween the Disc and the Aisnc are re
pcrted in the official statement issue,
At the war Office.
Monday was another day of notable
successes for the allies, results of tn
first Importance being attained in th
face of stiff resistance to both the Brit
lsh on the left of the line and to Gen
eral Mangin's French troops on til
right.
Constant movements toward the rea
Of the German lines on the Somm
front in the regions of Ham and Guis
card are reported by the correspondent
Of LIE Journal at British headquarter.
Hospitals and dressing stations ar
being hastily cleared, while convoy
are moving northeastward. harasse
by entente airplanes.
The French military commentator
write enthusiastically over the breac
In the Hindenburs line made by tn
British between Droucourt and Ouean
Astonishing as it may SEEM" say
Henri Bidou in the Journal Des %,
bats; 'the enemy was once more take
by surprise. Only by accepting tli
as fact can one account for the grea
number of prisoners which indicat
the Importance of the forces engage
and the lack of the prolonged resi-
tance which should have been the col
sequence of tha presence of this in
portant mass of electives. Doubles
the German staff held the hope TIN,
the British after several days har
fighting would be obliged to rest
In the newspaper Oui, Colonel Fabr
advances the view that the battle
being directed on the German side b
the local commanders, who are beir
more and more left to their own r
sources by General Ludendorff. Thi
he argues, is a certain sign that col
fusion prevails.