New-York tribune., 1918-10-03
Great Drive
By Allies Is
NearClinax
F och's Hammering Keeps
Ludendorf Retreating
Slowly but Surely
! BY Arthur s. Draper
cSpcciol Cdblc 10 Ttc Trtbupc1

(Comright. l9lS. Ncw York Tribune Ic)
LONDON, Oct. 2. The outstanding
features of Focl's gigantic operation
to crush the German armies before
they eau retire to new defensive
system arc:
]. The widening Of thc Flanders
salient until its periphery is almost
forty miles, notable progress being
made by the British, Dclglans and
French both north and south Of Lille.
e. The firing of Cambrai by the
Germans, with the gradual cr.vclop-
mcnt Of both Cambrai and st. Quentin
whore the fighting RACES violently un-
der unfavorablc weather conditions.
3. The deep withdrawal of the enemy
from the Ncslc and west of Rheims.
a. The fine advance by the French
next to Argonnc, and.
S. The terrific fighting of the Amcri-
The German resistance has stiifcncd
on all battlcfrontS, consequently tho
progress is less spectacular, but every
where the enemy is rccoilins under the
mighty blows of the Allies.
The Belgian communiquc reveals the
fact that the French arc cooperating
against General Won Arnim, who now
has received assistance, in his dcs-
pcratc efforts to break the wavcs beat
ing eastward through Flanders. Mud
and rain and more reserves served to
check the Allies from assailing Roulers
and sweeping southwark toward Lille.
BcIgians Making Good
Gradually VIC arc getting the details,
showing that King Albert is command
ing an army second to none in fighting
ability.
The weather has improved slightly,
but Flanders and the lowlands arc in
Lille, just as the navy is on guard off
Ostcnd aud Zccbruggc. Aeroplancs are
worrying German craft in the Belgian
ports. After torrcntal storms on Mon
day, Horne and Byng resumed opera
tions between Cambrai and St Qucn-
tin this morning. A wedge was driven
deep between the towns.
Between the towns the higher ground
offers a better footing. Cambria is
suffering heavily from the fires caused
by the artillery. The English ard
Canadians arc engaged in bitter street
fighting on three sides Of Cambral.
The British make special mention Of
the fine work of the American divisions
in the tough fighting around Bouy Bel
licourt.
RatfIc's Climcx Is Ncar
The climax of this great battle is
near. Mangin has driven the Grown
Prince back from Ncsle to the old lines
north of the Ailette and far east Of
Courtroom, while the retirement to the
northwest of Rheims is being hurried.
Gouraud has made a striking advance
to the west of Argonnc, capturing
Condc Bnarvlllc and forcing the en-
dcntaly relieving Liggctt of some Of
the pressure TO his left.
The Americans, who arc battling
against the strong enemy reserves
intended for the Cambrai
front, are making slow but steady
progress. 1t is estimated that the Al
lies have taken close to 10000 prison
crs in the last six days. Some critics
begin to doubt whether Ludcndorff can
conduct the retreat because of the
pressure on his nanks. The German
line between the sea and Nerdun is SO
heightened that Ludendorff has lost all
the advantage of his earlier with
drawal Meanwhile his losses are un-
precedented
Foch is doing on giant scale what
enemy suffers the same relative losses
!, ,,;11 nroctic,1ly br {lDishr: