Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-14
FRENCH TAKE LAON
WITH La FERE AND
ST. G0BA|N MASS|F:
German Line From Rheims
to Belgium in Great
er Danger.
PETAIN'S TROOPS PUSH 81 - ,,i .
FORWARD IN CHAMPAGNE
Operations in Albania and Ser
bia Favorable for
I Allies.
BRITISH GAIN AT soLEsMEs
Franco-American Progress North Of
argonnc Threatens Enemy's
Left Flank. sstg
I-- ss,l>7si,s
BRITISH GAIN AT soLEsMEs
Franco-American Progress North OF
Argonnc Threatens Enemy's.
Left Flank. sssg
IBy Associated Press. !

The German battle line In France
continues to bend under the attacks 'ot
the allies. but nowhere has 1t broken.
The enemy almost everywhere is in re-
treat toward new positions. but hissre-
treat is orderly, and the British. French
and Americans are being compelled to
fight their way forward slowly in the
face OF enemy machine-gun detach-
ments acting as rear guards. 80
Highly important strategic posi-
tons have been wrested from the
enemy by the British and French, while
on their sector of the front the Amer
leans have further advanced tho cir. line
on both sides OF the Meuse, obtaining
the objectives they sought. 57 ~
The British advance after days OF
hard lighting. has brought, them at
last to the gates OF Douai. which, long
upon the great bend In the line which
has Lille as it's center, and which has
been considered by. the military,,ex
defense system through. Northern Bel
giun}to the sea-. ifSgt 4. ~; 90 s.
Tasthe south the French have blotted.
sreater portion @ Of the % s., S SebaiR aRa aas sas
sif7 standing :inf 1.-The elbow whetes the
line runs eastward toward: the !, SWISS
weeks had stood fighting desperately.
realizing that a successful advance by
their foes would shatter allYtheir.mli-
itary plans In the south, and probably
compei swifterr retirement than is
now being carried out. and possibly
make untenable the entire Meusetlinc;
to which II is believed they tarc grad
ually making their way. ssSI7E,s
BY the successes OF the British and
the French the entire German lihs
from Rheims. to the Belgian frontier
with the new advances OF the Fleneh
and Americans in and
along both sides Of the Meuse snosth-
yard seemingly snal '. the enemy, for a few
steps eastward and northward to- pre-
vent the great converging maneuvcr
from capturing large. numbers OF pris-
oners, especially in the pocket from the
region northwest OF Rheims to La Ferc.
Here, however, the enemy, seeing the
ultimate fall of Laon. may, have used
and successfully withdrawn n majority
of his forces toward AIeseres b,rs
FRENCH CROSS AIsNE
AT SEVERAL PLACES
Along the Aisne in Champa snc ,the
the AIsne at various places. and fsSrs are
almost upon the important railway
town of Rethel, whence it is only u
step to Mesieres. while north OF You-
their way forward toward Sedan. lin
the bend of the Aisne more than thirty-
six LOCALITIES have been liberated 1by
civilians freed from honda re. Since
the offensive began 21,567 Germans
have been made prisoner and 6o0'sof
their guns captured. S,tt
With the situation in France and
Belgium highly satisfactory to the al
lies. the operations in Serbia and AL
forward successfully Nish. the cap.-
tai of the little kingdom, after the in
vasion by the Austro- -Hungariars has
been reeaptured, and the enemy. driven
to the hills north OF It, The Austro-
Hunsarians are slowly, but surely
being driven northward In Albania,
and now are being engaged In the re-
gion OF Ipek, thirty miles southwest
OF NovipaZar. ffIIssf,S