Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-22
Collapse of Present linden
burg Defensive Positions
Appears to Be Imminent.
ST. QUENTIN'S FALL NEAR
AS FOCH DRAWS CLOSE
La Fere, Laon and Chemin des
Danes Next Targets of Attack.
FOE PEACE MOVE FAILS
Civilized World Not Counternanc-
ing Negotiated Peace-What
Germany Must Give.
FOE PEACE MOVE FAILS
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

Collapse of the entire linden
burg defensive line on the west
ern front is imminent. 1t is but
matter of few days until the
relentless and terrible blows Of
Field Marshal Foch's armies
have brought about vast change
in the complexion of things.
The British have been steadily
hammering as they have never
hammered before. Defying
ruthless. tremendous concen-
trated German fire on the hill
regions to the northeast of
scissors, the French have been
biting inch by inch from the
strong German lines. Today
finds the British and French, the
former operating to the north
west and the latter to the SOUTH
west, about to take St. Quentin.
The Germans. realizing that if St.
Quentin falls they likewise must give
up La Fere, and next Laon. have given
orders that st. Quentin must not be
surrendered to the enemy under any
circumstances. This gives cue to the
terrible character of the conflicts
which have been raging about this
point. But the Germans will be forced
to give it up should the allied armies
continue their present rate of prog
ress. Undoubtedly there will be no
1et-up until the desired end has been
reached
Though the giving up of ST. Quentin
undoubtedly will force readjustment
of the German line to the north in the
region Of Douai and Flanders. the
chief results will lie to the south,
where the French wedge has been
driven to point directly north of La
Fere After the taking of st. Quentin
the next step would be to start the
forward movement southeast with the
intention of completely enveIoping La
Fcre. and after this point falls. move
southwark. and possibly to the east
to such wide extent that German
evacuation of Laon and the strong
Chemin des DANES positions and the
whole line of defense north of this
would come. And such withdrawal
means that the Germans will be forced
to place their main line of defense in
the future along the Belgian border,
II not well within Belgium itself, be-
cause of peculiar Typographical con-
dftionS which do not lend themselves
to consistent or prolonged defense
during the past week Immediately
following the successful American
drive in the st. Mihiel salient the
French bit deeper into the almost
impregnable defenses between Sois-
sons and to a point Immediately west
of Laon. Furthermore. they. in CO.
operation with the British struck in
the direction of st. Quentin. American
forces during the past week have spent
most of their time in consolidating
their positions running roughly from
BeZonvauN northeast of Verdun to the
Moselle river. The Germans have at
tempted several counter actions. but
have been repuised SO consistently
that it appears that they will confine
ening of the defenses of Metz. which
are vital. If the Americans capture
Metz and dominate the iron mining
region of Briey. their success would
do as much as any other single thing
To put Germany out of the war.
There will he no let-up in the fight
ing on the western front. OF this
the world is assured by the Foch
policy of constantly attacking once
the initiative rests with him. 1t
would not he surprising in the least
to sea the Germans driven from all
of northern France before snow flies.
hut this does not mean that this task
will he accomplished with ease. but
only after terrible series of en-
CagementS in which the iron will
of allied military units will he pitted
against the n,aSSed concentrations of
German troops who are being told to
fight until they are killed. In many
instances this is actually what is hap
peninE. Notwithstanding the large
numbers of prisoners taken.
F'och. by Christmas. may he able to
say to his peoples and the world. Our
land is free of barbaric oppression"
The kaiser can't put anything over
on him like that"