The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-09-03
LOSS OF QUEANT
LINE |MPERILS
ENEMY DEFENSE
Blow Regarded as One Of
Worst Disasters Inflicted on
Germans During War.
(By Associated Press.)

(By Associated Press.)
LONDON, Sept. 3.-The sensational
breaking of the famous Drocourt-
Queant switch line after a series of
important allied advances with great
captures of men and material has
made an immense impression here
While too great confidence that the
success can be maintained is depre-
Gated and while the expectation is
general that the enemy will make the
most desperate efforts to recover the
position, the blow is regarded as one
of the worst disasters inflicted upon
the Germans during the whole war
and one which must cause their high
est command the deepest anxiety.
The belief is general that the switch
line is the main system of German de-
fense and that there is nothing
strong behind it. Consequently, its
loss, if it becomes final, opens the
widest possibilities.
Its loss would involve the evacua-
ton Of the French coal field, perhaps
even Of the Flanders coast" says the
Mail, " and would imperil the German
hold on Dousi, Valenciennes and Cam
brai, which are essential to linden
burg for manoeuvring his armies. The
switch line is thus the pivot of the
whole German front and its breach
means that we have forced the enemy
to a struggle Of man against man
which he had used all of his ingenuity
to avoid"
The Telegraph, also noting the dan
ger to the important German centers
of communication says: "1f the Ger
mans cannot stand before Doual, Cam
brai and ST. Quentin, they can stand
no where this side of the German
frontier. 1t is possible for them to
fight harder and throw in reserves at
swifter rate than they have done in
the last few days, they will do SO. We
doubt the possibility of their accom-
plishing either"
Other commentators remark that
the Germans now pretend that they
are retiring according to plan and are
convinced that the retirement will be
compulsorily carried uch further than
they ever intended.
ENEMY TAKEN By SURPRISE
PARIS, Sept. 3.-Yesterday was an
other day of notable successes for the
allies, results of the first Importance
being attained in the face of stiff re-
sistance to both the British on the left
of the line and to General Mangin's
French troops on the right.
The French military commentators
write enthusias stically today over the
breach in the Hindenburg line made
by the British between Drocourt and
Queant.
astonishing as it may SEEM" says
Henri Bidou in the Journal des Debats,
the enemy was once more taken by
surprise. Only by accepting this as
fact can one account for the great
number of prisoners which indicate
the Importance of the forces engaged
and the lack of the prolonged resist
ance which should have been the con-
sequence of the presence of this i'm
portant mass of electives. Doubtless
the German staff held the hope that
the British after several days hard
fighting would be obliged to rest"
In the newspaper Oui, Col. Fabry
advances the view that the battle is
being directed on the German side by
the local commanders who are being
more and more left to their own re-
sources by General Ludendorff. This
fusion prevails along the German line
and likewise of a scarcity of reserves,
for in losing its reserves the supreme
command loses it's best reason for in
tervening in the direction of affairs
at the front, the critic points out.
Must Accelerate Retreat.
All the commentators agree that the
British success is likely to have wide
hot no
armies fighting before ST. Quentin and
their retreat for fear Of the fall of
what is characterized as the pivot of
the whole line to the west of Cambria,
which would place them in jeopardy.
On the southern end of the line the
enemy is continuing to interpose an
energetic resistance between the ALL
ette and the Aisne, profiting by the in
tricacies Of the terrain which makes
the region one of the most difficult to
attack and easiest to defend on the
less General Mangin is making prog.
ress daily scoring advances which
while not great in themselves, are
appreciable and continuous and are
to have a cumulative effect |
uIou6H lHe capture VI LeulIly elRnL
miles north OF Soissons, and of Terny-
Sorny, three miles south of Leuilly, /,
the French have completed the cap
ture Of the plateau above scissors. |
Leuilly, in addition is close to the ALL |!
cite, while TernySorny is on level !,
with the Chemin- Des-Dames, which is |
less than four miles to the east. One |
effect Of the advance is to give view |
over the whole county eastward as far |
as Laon, an advantage which will have |
It's effect In due time.