Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-09-08
lBy the AgsocIated Press. }

(By the Associated Press)
Marshal Foch's succession of ham,
me rblows along the German lines
from Rheims to Arras since July Is
have well nigh completely flattened
out the bulges created by the German
offensives.
The we'll co-ordinated program of
his attack has brought him to point
where he may well be able to strike
a still more disastrous blow to the
German defensive system.
From Laon to Cambria the Hin
denburg line stood all last year in the
way of the allied armies seeking to
drive back the enemy from northern
France and Flanders. Little impress
sion was made in that line except
temporarily in General Byng's drive
below Cambrai last fall. Already in
this summers campaign the line has
been pierced on a wide front along
its nOrtherly stretches by the British
and within the past few hours it has
Eeen penetrated in its southerly reach
es by the French.
1t appears that Marshal Fochs plan
may prove to involve the turning OF
the line on both its flanks--at Cam
brai and Laon. In the north the Brit
ish have been for several days in q
position to deliver what might easily
prove a vital stroke TO the west Of
Cambria where they have halted al
the canal du Nord and made no move
toward ortgiag tlonL the blow which
the le~ ~ t.1a GitaassOA points u ass
inevitable.
Pctain Again In South.
In the south the armies of General
Petain have now fought their way
10 positions where the left flank of
the line is under their guns and the
edge of the defensive positions are be-
ginning to feel the effect of the
pounding.
on the western outskirts of the bas
tlon of st. Gobain, defending Laon,
me French already at Barisis. are in
advance of the line they occupied in
IVY and further south below the
main bastlon, are standing on ground
winch had not been in allied hands
SINCE l9l4 Further north they are
before Lafere, whence an eastward
drive would carry them north of the
st. Gobain massif.
me French drive seems clearly aim
ed at this massif which, apparentIV
safe from capture by a frontal attack
seems not unlikely to prove the OBJ
JectiVe of an encircling movement,
This may have to await the further
retirement of the Germans from the
Aisne. A retirement is regarded Us in
eVitable because of the allied positio
on the German left flank from the
Aisne at Conde to Vauxaillon. Some
military critics argue that the German
mere Will not be permitted to halt
even at the Chemin des Danes bcsit-
ION but the enemy will be forced 10
retreat still further north, thus ad
ditionaly exposing Laon IN the east.
The allied unified command makes
1t certain the expected drives at the
vital points on both the north, in the
Cambrat sector and in the south
around the Laon positions will he so
eo-ordinated as to insure the maxi
mum result.
Close In On Hindenburg Line.
The process of closing in toward
the Hindenburg line at the points
where it had not yet been reached.
was continued rapidly YESTERDAY bv
both the French and British. The
BritiSh moved forward at an acceler
ated pace below the Canlbrai- Peronna
front and on that front itself thew al
Ttduy are CLOSE 10 the line. South of
the Scmlne the Fre oh pressed on be-
you'd Tergnier and moved up speedily
along all the line opposite tbe frort
between La Fere ana IT. Quentin.
On the Aisne, there was little
change towards the western part of
the front, where the Americans and
French are on the river, facing the
Germans entrenched along the canal
which parallels the stream. Further
east the Germans are giving up ground
The Angle formed by the line trending
off southeastward toward Rheims, Of
fered particularly stiff opposition to
the Franco-American forces near
Roman, between Revillon and Mont
igny-Sur-Voslc.
In Flanders the british made some
further headway but found the Ger
man resistance stiffening around La
Bassee. The Germans apparently do
not intend TO give UP Armentieres, in
this sector but are reported hurriedly
fortifying the region defending It..
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