The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-10-15
Two Miles From courtraI.


work of railways in western Flanders
the Belgians. French and British fore
es under King Albert are now within
two miles of the important rail center
of Courtrai. The allies also dominate
with their guns the railroad running
from Lille to the Belgian coast by
way of Courtrai and thus hamper, if
they have not cut off. all communica-
ton between Ostend and Lille. Bel
gian troops are on the outskirts of
Menin.
The German resistance in Flanders
appears to be only for the purpose of
delaying the allies until the evacua-
tion of Belgium can be completed. The
enemy is reported to be evacuating
Ostend and to be sending large boat
loads of troops away from the coastal
regions.
Between the Disc and the Argonne
the French are pressing, the enemy
hard and giving him little chance to
dig in should he desire to do so. East
of the Disc the French are within
half mile of the Ferre river along most
of it's length and have advanced be-
tween and 6 miles from Laon.
Americans Drive Ahead.
Even the Aisne is fast being lost to
the enemy as a means of defense. The
French now threaten Rethel
Keeping step with the American op-
Grafton east of the Argonne, the
French are moving forward west of
the forest. The French have reached
the Aisne west Of Grandpre and have
captured the towns of Olizy and Ter
mer.
Between the Argonne and the Meuse
the Americans are battling forward
forward through the German wire en-
tanglements. Tanks have ben brought
up especially in the region west of
Romagne. As on Monday the Ger
mans are resisting stubbornly, but sat
isfactory progress is being made.
French troops have made an i'm
portant advance toward the important
town of Rithell and captured the town
OF Nanteuil sur Aisne, 21a miles
west of Rethel, says the French war
Office statement today.
Serbian forces advancing north of
Nish on Sunday captured on a large
front all the heights which dominate
both banks of the Morava river, ac-
cording to an official statement
Line Carried Forward.
Savagely attacking the German
lines in Belgium, British, French and
Belgian forces have captured Roulers
and carried their liner far toward
Courtrai and Thourout. In reports
from the front, there are indications
that the German lines have been
pierced and that the enemy is retreat
ing rapidly.
On the other extreme Of the battle
line. American troops have carried
their lines well past the Kriemhild
position west of the Meuse river. They
are now holding front that runs
from north of Cunel, north of Ro-
magne and thence northwestwardly to
the vicinity of ST. Georges, at which
village il turns TO the southwest and
meets the French lines at Grand Pre-.
French and Italian forces are slowly
sweeping the Germans back out of the
Iaon salient, They are now we'll to
the east of the Laon-LaFere railroad
and have kept up a steady pressure
against the enemy along the Disc val
ley TO the northeast of LaFere.
May OutfIank Sub Bases.
The allied blow in Belgium appears
to be one which may have a direct
bearing on the course of the mighty
battle that is being fought over the
Edllie line iIOIl uuue W NSTuuU.
The progress made against the Ger.
mans on the first day of the often
sive seems to indicate that it is pos
sible for the allies to press eastward
and outfank both the German sub
marine bases, to the north and the /
whole German line, to the south.
A glance at the map shows that the |
railroads by which the submarine !
bases are supplied are in great danger |
as the allied advonce carries the line |
nearer and nearer to Ghent 1t is |
rumored along the British front in |
FLANDERS that British monitors have |
without confirmation. Should it prove |
true however. 1t is possible that forces |
may be landed in the rear of the
Germans still holding the lines be-
twee Thourout and the sea,