Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1918-10-24
NEW STORM IS
BREWING upon
BATTLE FRONT
Military Critics Think Allies Pre-.
pairing for Great Forward
Movement.
THE HALT ONLY TEMPORARY
Believed Germans Will Be Driv-
en- to Their Own Soil
Before Winter.
THE HALT ONLY TEMPORARY

Washington, D. c., Oct. 23.-Now
that the Germans have been cleared
out OF Belgian. Flanders and much Of
northern France, army officials here
are watching the battle front intently,
many OF them with 4 distinct feeling
that a new storm of attack may be
about to break against the enemy.
There was nothing tonight to indicate
That this expectancy was founded up
on definite information, and It prob.
ably grows out of q number of hap
penings OF a minor character in them.
selves, but possibly important links in
the chain of events soon to be disclos.
ed.
Beyond doubt the German retire.
ment to Belgium has slowed down.
However, it is not yet clear whether
this is due to the fact that retreating
forcs are nearing on the whole north
ern front the line which frequently
has been selected by military critics
as the first pausing place on the
way to the Meuse or the necessities
Of extending allied communication
lines as the troops advance. 1t is
probable, officers said, that there is
necessity for a breathing spell on both
sides.
Headed for the Mouse
There IS little doubt here that the
German army is headed for nothing
short of the Meuse line and that any
pause will be but temporary to permit
REIMBURSEMENT Of the columns and sup
ply lines in order tina the same order
ly sequence of movements shall char
acterize subsequent retirements.
Several halts of this character may be
expected. 1t was said, as the with.
drawal project is carried out.
The line surrendered by the enemy
from Lille northward to the coast, it
was pointed out, was far stronger
and no longer than that he now
stands upon in Belgium. In addition,
by the evacuation of the Flanders
coast. he has furnished the allies with
means Of setting up new and more
direct communication lines from
England via Ostend, Zeebrugge or
other Flanders ports. Without ques-
ton, it is said, these of sup
dying the advancing armies already
ire being opened to free the longer
ines back into France of that burden,
md consequently officers cannot see
n tactical advantage gained by the
enemy unless he intends to fall back
at least to the line Of the Meuse.
Hun Right Flank Thrown Back
The first stage OF the great retreat
Is almost complete. The German
right flank has been swung back like
a gate all the way from solesmes,
south Of Valenciennes, to the Dutch
border. South OF the pivot, however,
there has been little change in the
front from the oispt 10 the Meuse. 1t
has been noted that heavy concentra-
ton OF forces was made by the Ger
mans on the Le Cateau-O ise.serre
front and also against the American
northwest Of Verdun. With
out question thearetenticn OF these
lines unbroken was vital to the Ger
man plan OF action. Now that the
withdrawal in the north has progress.
ed 70 fully. however, it would. aus
no surprise here III a retirement be
tween the Disc and the serre were
undertaken without delay to rectifyi
the whole line.
To many officers t seems possible
that now events have 80 shaped the
line chat q great drive ma soon be
undertaken, calculated to upset the
whole German plano 4 retirement, All
ready the allied linesiiaye been short.
ened 20 that Considerable force must
be available FOR the work, particularly,
British. The time capnot DE far away
also when the American second army.
MAJ. Gen. Billiard WI bessput into
play xTg
yank Attacks Looked For
10 sonle observers II seems possible
thai q wide attackSSSriay 10 made nv
the tRo Annsrican arn1ics, hoth@east
and wost of the l6eiise. the thrust ~
Ing aimed At tho great rail artery
passing through Seam and Montehy.
A co.cpsfating Frelch assault west of
tho Argonns enthusiastically be part
Is aach 4 thrust Mother Officers,
however, recent FNrFx&nch ratding opera
lions ii Aisace seelmto have gientf.
lcance Apparently in{of1nation 4 Al.
Slred ! % 5sthe aS1n6In stfenGtlls prs
Tint front andsaS tc2Ae charectef ma
qualify tho trS there Such
aids offeasis;e
6Operstis aithasa thxsrareiy ~