Republican farmer., 1918-09-06

In what appears llht dIl tl of the German retirement, Wh what lpisurely both north and markedly acccntuated north Ot Tn this movement the important French coal mining Citly of Lens, at the gates of which the British pound- ed vainly virtually all last year, has been evacuated. the British moving in. To the north. in Flanders, the re- treat Is continuing, and the British have further closed up the Lys sa- lient by taking possession of tEc will lage of Wulverghen, two miles south of Kemmel.
 South of Lens the Germans appar- ently are acknowledging themselves beaten on the Queant-DroCourt line where Eaig's break through was eff fected, and are retreating in this vii tally important sector without at tempting a counter drive on the vic torious British.
 Still farthec south the retirement has resulted in the evacuation of areas three to four miles deep on both side of the apaume-Cambrai road, the British taking town after town in this area in their steady ad- vance.
 Though the German command must have been anticipating an attack or the Hindenburg switch line. which the British had closely approached in their earlier advances it apparently was not expected at the moment. The Germans seem to have been surprised at the quickness with which Haig's Canadians and othe~ British forces after fighting their way up to the line organized a crushing attack agains the lina itself
 This morning alone, on the 20 mile froH: where the BrItis1 mainly art engaged, they are reported to have advanced no less than a maximum O four miles. This seems to emPhasiZ the cleGrli ;ess of the break.
 It is too early to estimato with an! degree of accuracy what effect thu present big drive of the Allies ma, ultimately produce. The fall o Douai and Cambrai. which now seem not improbable in 'ha near future would put the entire German line ou of join: between the North sea ant Rheims, however, and would be like ly to force the evacuation of a grea part of northern France now occu pied by the Germans.
 Opera tions by the French apt Americans in the south may be count ed on to work toward such a result There is a hint in today's dispatche that SC me development of importanc iG i'm 10 nd nrlt ha where the left flank of the Hinden burg line is under Franco-America, pressure.
 London. Sept. 3. 1 p. m-The Brit ish have captured the city of Lens.
 The town of Queant also has bee tal1er,
 Lens was evacuated by ths Ger mans. tie British moving iE.
 Tn their push beyond the Drocourt Queant line the British have advance to a point just to the west of Buiss, two anA q half miles northeast Qucant.aud occupied Pronville. mi and a half southeast of Queant.
 More than 10000 prisoners~we, taken by the British yesterday. At ditional prisoners were taken tn morning
 The British also hold Dougnies, Vel and Bertincourt and Rocquigny. rcI resenting an advance 70 a maXimu depth of four miles on 20 mile frol effected this morning.
 In Flanders the British forces hay captured the town of Wulverghe1 two miles southeast of Kemmel.
 London, Sept. 3-COntrary to e, pectations the enemy has not reactt heavily with a view to the recaptul of the Queant- -Drocourt line, but h left the British in undistuTbed DC session of it.
 The British found Doignlcs al Velu unoccupied.
 The situation in the southern pa of the battle field is said to be e tremely interesting, but nothing mo can be said for the moment.
 London, Sept. 3-The capture the town of Oueant, the southern su port of the famous German swift line before Cambrai and Douai. announced in an official stateme from Field Marshal Eaig today.
 In stormlng the Drocourt- -Quea line the Canadians assisted the En fish troops and carried everything fore them.
 Along this line the enemy W heavily defeated in his prepared lenses and is retiring on virtually i whole battle front.
 The British forces are reported have entered the towns of Pronvil Doignies and Bertincourt.
 With the French Army in Fran Monday, Sept. 2-(Py the Associat PresB) French 10th army sREned its attacks on the plateau nol