Omaha daily bee., 1918-10-21
GERMANS next
DEFENSIVE LINE
NOW INSECURE
Keystone Fractured by Anglo.
American Thrust; Enemy
May Be Unable to Stop
Tide of Retreat.

Washington. Oct. 20.-The Ger
man retreat from Belgium contin-
ued today at rate that indicated
early arrival of the allied forces
before the first of the enemy's
series of defense lines. Reports
from the front were of a scattering
character, however, and furnished
officers here with little basis for
guaging the immediate strategic
Situation. One unofficial report
placed the Anglo-American advance
patrols in the western edge of the
forest of Normal, between Valen-
ciennes and Avesaes. If this is
correct, the subsidiary line of the
Enemy has already been broken.
General March referred to this
bituation in his weekly conference.
saying:
From Lecateau northward the
British have reached, but have not
yet attempted to cross the German
defense line which here follows
the east bank of the Selle river up
to the Sensee marshes"
The situation along the front was
in such a state of flux, shifting
every hour with the German with
drawaI gaining in speed, that Gen
eral March made no effort at his
weekly conference to outline the
strategic possibilities. He did,
however, call attention to the fact
that the withdrawal had expanded
to cover practically the whole ESQ
miles front from the coast to the
Meuse, where General Pershings
orces are carrying forward the al
led right wing.
Whole Line in Fluid State.
II the German commanders are
successful in bringing their great
retreat to a halt on the expected
defensive line, officers here believe
THAT the enemy cannot long remain
lin that position. The Anglo. Amer
|ican thrust already appears to have
fractured the keystone of the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES arch
at Normal forest. There is much
speculation here, however, as to|
whether the enemy will be able to
stop the tide of retreat he has
started, now that it is in full swing.
The whole enemy line from the
Disc north is in fluid state. OBJ
servers believe it will be difficult
matter 10 solidify it again if allied
pressure can keep pace with the
retreat The very depth of the
enemy withdrawal, it is possible may
serve to give him time for this re-
adjustment. The communication
lines of the French, British and Bel
gian armies are rolling out behind
them in overwhelming avenues
back to their bases. The armies
cannot outrun those arteries and
it takes time to repair and build rail-
ways to handle the vast supplies.
Americans Hold Key
To some officers, therefore, it
seems likely that pause will soon
occur in Belgium and on the north
ern half of the great battlefront.
They are watching ir<ently how
ever, for a new thrust by the, Am
erican and Franco-American force
east and west of the Mouse who per-
haps are holding the key to the
whole enemy front, whatever plans
for gradual withdrawal to the Ger
man frontier have been made.
1t is pointed out that while many
intermediate lines have been indie
ated as possible defense positions
in the northern battle areas, all re-
ports have agreed upon the Me-
zieres- Sedan- Montmedy-Metz front
as the only defense position in the
field before the French and Ameri-
cans on both sides of the Mouse.
Major General Liggett's American
first army is already within II miles
Of that line.
There is good reason to expect
q concentration of effort to bridge
this gap and come to grips with the
enemy in his position of last re-
sort officers think. The Franco
American operations are taking
shape for new thrust along the
1 use and in that connection par
hlar importance was attached. to-
to the crossing of the Aisne and
|ture of the heights east and
ia of Vouziers by the French.
Dn this front the French now
nd almost at right angles to the
herican lines east of Grandpre.
poded, hilly ground faces both
mics, but pocketing enter
Sc apparently is being made
bund this forest region that is
Ncking the movement along the
Euse. Berlin reports show fierce
hting in the depths of this pock-
the repulse of the French and
hericans being claimed.
The French are approaching the
Fdennes canal line north Of the
rest barrier. 1t may be possible,
was said today, that a swift pin
Ter movement, similar to that which
Cleared the Argonne pocket before,
will be launched to open the road to
the German main line of resistance.