The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-09-04
BRITISH VICTORY
IS A COMPLETE ONE
GERMAN ROUTED EVERYWHERE
FLEEING BEFORE VICTOR
IOUS BRITISH ARMS

WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE.-By the Associated Press,
The British victory in the battle Of
Drocourt-Queant line seems complete
Without having delivered a single
counter attack and staggering from
the blows administered yesterday, the
Germans last night and this morning
were in full flight for the eastern side
of the Canal du Nord.
The enemy is trying to save what
men and material he can from the
wreck in and behind one of the most
powerful defense systems ever de-
vised. The much boasted Drocourt-
Queant line, or, as the Germans call it
the Wotan line, is totally shattered.
The British are driving far through it
and the Germans are hurrying east
ward, leaving behind only pockets of
machine gunners and ever resistance
from these is gradually melting away.
Strong British forces are now
fighting their way down the linden
burg line itself and are cleaning it up
as they go. Meanwhile, little fur
ther south another force is driving on
the Hindenburg line frontally. The
Hun has tasted disaster in the Dro-
court line battle and now his disor-
are working fast to prevent an even
greater catastrophe overtaking them.
The British are rapidly approaching
the territory behind which is even
now under heavy fire from many
British cannon.
The foe knows this movement
means a menace to some of his forces,
and orders apparently have been Civ
q 70 III hoe 70 hn
Canal du Nord, where the Germans
are retiring is simply canal under
construction and contains no water.
1t is like railroad tunnel with the
top off. 1t is 80 feet across and 10
feet deep, with its sides for the most
part granite-walled, sloping slightly
inward toward the bottom. There
may be as hard fighting here as there
was last year.
1t was early in the morning, after
night in which the most stubborn bat
tie was fought. that the Germans be-
gan to show real signs of generally
being beaten. The village Of Etaing
was reported cleared up. Hamblain-
les-Prez, on the extreme flank, was
taken and the troops moved eastward.
But they did not go far, as the Ger
mans, in desperation, had damned the
liver Scarpe at Vitry- -en-Artois and
flooded the lowlands in this locality.
Patrols entered Biache St. Vaast,
which soon was reported captured.
From this general locality on the
north the British pushed sharply for
ward. Early in the forenoon airplanes
no Germans in any number
vest of Ecourt St. Quentin, which is
,ast of Recount and Saudemont,
where the British are pushing on and
overcoming the diminishing resist
ance.
The first substantial indication that |
he Germans admitted defeat was
When the British troops entered Re-
ourt, after having reached the out
kirts last night. They had been in
he town only few minutes when the
nemy artillery began shelling it
leavily from a. distance.
The British drove down the Arras-
,ambrai road with ease today. One
orce, according to word received at
eadquarters, captured Inchy-en-Ar-
ois, another occupied and cleaned up
he entire Buissy switch.
While this was going on squadron
f airplanes, discovering a large group
f the enemy some distance to the
asst, managed to break through the
rotecting German planes and rained
ombs down upon the masses, and
MS probably upset any idea the Ger
lans had of making a determined
tand west of the canal.