Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-10-25

lS uScu ny lHc diASS " SSuN uIhFLS
under Austrian domination. Baron
Burian, admitting the central powers
no longer had a chance Of achieving a
military decision, plastered President
Wilson with fiattery, declaring that
his humanitarian policies were fully
accepted by Austria-Hungary
-
1t was taken for granted that Tur-
key, under the leadership of Izzet
Pasha, the new grand vizier, was
about ready to make a separate peace.
In the effort to hold her in line, the
German Black sea feet was sent to
Constantinople and the government
was warned that the first step toward
breaking away from the alliance with
Germany would be the signal for a
bombardment of the city. Despite the
presence of the warships, 20 in num-
Der, a revolution broke out in Con-
stantlnople against the Young Turks,
whose power had not been wholly
broken by the change In cabinet.
"a
Roumania, which has been frankly
looking for a chance to get into the
war again, may have the opportunity
very soon. Already the inhabitants of
the northern part of the country, in
the province Of Moldavia, have risen
in armed revolt against the Austro-
German forces of occupation.
Ia
On the western battle front the
great event of the week was the
smashing drive of the allies in Elan
ders by which in a few days the Bel
gian seaports held by the Huns were
practically cut off and the Germans
were forced back rapidly almost to the
Dutch frontier. This drive, made
mostly by the British and Belgians,
was directed toward Bruges and
Client. In quick succession Roulers,
Menin, Lendelede and other towns
were captured; Wednesday night the
British occupied Courtrai, and on
Thursday the city Of Lille was taken
by them. The Belgians took Thourout,
and moved ahead rapidly to Bruges,
which they occupied with little oppo-
sition. At the same time the British
were entering Ostend, and a few
Lours later King Albert and Queen
Elizabeth were in that famous town
which for years had been one of the
chief U-boat bases Of the Huns. Zee
hrugge, also, 1t was said, was being
evacuated as fast as possible, and the
Germans in the strip of Belgium be-
tween Bruges and the Holland border
were making strenuous efforts to get
out Of the bottle neck. There was
only one practicable road for them,
and that was under the constant fire
from the Belgian batteries.
Having given up Lille, which they
ders from the army command, the
Huns were next forced to get out Of
Douai, and the process Of flattening
cut the salient proceeded merrily. 1t
appeared likely the Germans would
continue their retirement until they
were on the line Antwerp-Namur-
Mezieres-Metz. This, of course,
meant a tremendous retreat on a very
wide front and would not be at all
easy of accomplishment while Marshal
Foch was u~nrelentingly hammering at
them in every sector. From the coast
to La Cateau the withdrawal was be-
ing carried OF so rapidly that at this
writing no adequate guess could be
made, as to Its full extent. The aban-
donment of the Belgian coast by the
Huns meant that allied commerce vas
freed in great part from the U-boat
peril and that air raids on England
could no longer be carried out with
ease. The allies captured vast stores
and many heavy guns in Belgium.
-z-
Having forced the Huns out of Laon
and La Fere, the French maintained
O steady pressure on both sides of the
waning salient there, making progress
that was continuous, though not rapid
because of the increased resistance of
the enemy. AS the Hunding line Of
refuge was approached, in the region
Of Rethel, an important German rail-
way supply station on the Aisne, 1t be-
came apparent that the Huns intended
to try to hold that line for a time.
From Rethel almost to Verdun the
French and American armies fought
continuously, driving the Germans
back across the Grand Pre-Vouzieres
road and up both sides of the Mouse.
The Yankees took Grand Pre-, on the
northern bank of the Aire river north
of the Argonne forest, through which
they had fought their way 70 bravely
and doggedly. The place, though but
q small village. is OF great strategic
Importance. being the junction of the