Norwich bulletin., 1918-09-04
GERMANS ARE THREATENED
 WITH COMPLETE DISASTER
In Flanders the British Have Penetrated the Outskirts of Lens -Retreating Columns of Germans Have Been Cut tc
 PecesIPershing First Field Army Enter Battle Soor

ficers here that the German retire ment, heretofore conducted with ut most military skill was getting out of hand. Under the terrific pressure of the British and French armies all along the line from Yp~es to Soissons, the enemy apparently is being forced to a more pTecipitate withdrawal, par ticularly on the old Drocourt- -Queant front where Marshal Haig's men ham mered forward irresistibly again to-, day.
 The official announcement from Lorr- don that more than 10000 prisoners have been taken in two days of fight ing on this front in itself indicates, he said, that there is growing disorgan- ization in the German ranks.
 With this in mind, there was wide speculation today among officials to what new developments of the battle are to be expected. In it was clearly evident that observers believe that the time is fast approaching when General Pershing's first field army will participate in the battle, on the theory that General Foch has been with holding this new and vigorous force for a decisive blow when the time was ripe As to where or when that blow would be delivered. however, there was wide variance of opinion.
 The British now have broken a de- cided gap in the old German fortified lire and the fall of Cambrai. Douai, St. Quentin and several other rail and railroad centers upon which the Hin denturg line depended seems immin- ent.
 If the enemy intended to fall back | upon this line when he was forced in l to a general withdrawal along his whote front fl oIn Rheims to Ypres, his 1 chances are rapidly dwindling as the | British lines s1rgr forward at the very 1 center Of the great battle front, Marshal Haigs forces are moving on ! Canbrai the key to a large section of | the old line. and if that place is talk | en. it 4bpaars to officers here that the | enemy will he quickly forced to evac- uate inc salient in which he is rapidly being pock@Sd by the French and American advance of the Oise-Ailette 1 lires in the sonth and the British thrust eastward from Peronne to the north.
 l So evident is the growing disor- | ganization among the Germans shown | in reports from the British front that
 sor.e officers are inclined to think il
 possible that the enemy may be fore l cd to withdrawal to the Rhine this year Others, however, feel that the skill the German leaders have display ed does not warrant any anticipation l of an early collapse of the military ma
 chine.
 On all sides it is evident here that announcement of the formation of the 1 first American field army and the fact that many American units which had
 been brigaded with the French or
 British for final training have beer
 withdrawn to be added to it have beer
 taken to mean that the Americans
 would attack during the present year
 Ample time remains, it is said, for tht
 organization of the force to be com
 pleted and the assault launched be
 fore winter interferes.
 The American army is picked
 force composed of the prime fightinI
 manhood of the nation and filled witl
 ardor for the battle. It forms. officer!
 here believe. an ideal instrument witl
 which General Foch will bc able to de
 liver a real offensive coup when ht
 deems the field ready. The presen
 fighting, in this view. is preparatory t
 the delivery of such a blow and it nov
 appears probable to many observer
 that it wHl be delivered soon and prob
 ably in a region to the east of Hheim
 or of Nerdun where the concentration
 of enemy reserves to meet 1t will b'
 most difficult because of the bitte
 fighting in Flanders and Picardy.