Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-10-17

u, CO4HtnHH06f OF the Erench forces Ei)
~~~>~~-.~~~--~~-~~
be granted Germany until her cities.
her towns and her people have suf-
fered some of the horrors of war that
her brutal soldiers have inflicted on
Belgium, northern France and Serbia.
The absolute unrepentance of the
Huns for their outrages is shown by
their action In lOoting and wnntonly
destroying the towns In France from
which they are being driven and III
their practice OF carrying away with
them thousands Of the helpless inhnb-
itants who. are forced to work for
them like slaves. The formal warning
'of France that there would be retribu-
ton for these shameful deeds has been
dfsregarded, and IL adequate punish
Dent is not inflicted there will be n
general feeling that Justice has mis-
corrfed.
President Wilson and his confiden-
ttal advisers. 1t is said, still believe
the German people will rise in revo.
luton and oust the Hohenzollern crew,
Gnd his inquiry as to whom Prince
Max represents is significant in that
connection. The chancellor, In his
speech to the reichstag. undertook
rather feebly to. demonstrate that re-
cent political changes actually had put
the people in power and that he was
their representative. But all that was
looked on as bunk.
The diplomatic situation resolved IT.
self down to this: The German gov
ernmeIt mtsst ei. her 6dls.si defeat and
surrender on allied terms. or 1t must
confess that the chancellor was not
acting in good faith. That is the hole
In which President Wilson has placed
Prince Max and his associates.
la
| The greatest blow delivered by the
allied armies last week was between
! Cambrai and ST. Quentin. There Field
Marshal Haigs tireless forces. re-en-
forced by American divisions, tore a
20-mile gap through the strongest OF
Hindenburg's boosted defenses emp
thousands Of prisoners and ON Wednes-
Gay occupied the long and des-
perately defended city Of Cambrai.
The Huns, in full flight. blew up most
of Cambrni and burned BOhain, Mar
t,tz and many another beautiful town,
nut the allies did not even stop to ex-
t:ngnish the flames. The enemy ap-
parently was attempting to reconsti-
tute his lines back Of the Selle
river from lie Catenu to Solesmes. sc
Haig's troops, led by the cavalry,
pushed rapidly forward and the big
guns followed so fast that they kept
the Huns always under fire. Only the
German machine gunners put up cred
table defense, the rifiemen who could
be overtnlken generally surrenderins
\ willingly. Prisoners said the German
| plan was to retreat to the Valenciennes
line and then to the Meuse, and 1t was
\ evident the retirement of the German
armies from France was well under
way. They will fight all the way back
to their borders, of course, but the
country is open and the tanks and cav
airy of the allies will hnve daily in
creaslng opportunity to do their part
The Germans still have the strength
to- maintain a fairly orderly retreat
and if the war is ended by military
decision, 1t is admitted the Huns may
be able to postpone that inevitable
4 event for many months. When the,
do reach the Meuse they will be be
ibind powerful defenses. but the No
ture of those defenses Is known to the
allied commanders, and SO far as the
Notifications there are concerned, the
Immense sum just asked of congress
for American artillery may be takel
to Indicate the tremendous concentra
i ton of gunfire that will be used t.
bntter them to pieces.
-R-
While their comrades were helpin:
the British In the great drive in th,
Cambrai region, the American Firs
army was exceedingly busy west O
The Meuse. For many days the dough
boys bnttled their way through the Ar
gonne forest, and at the northern enc
Of 1t they went up against cOncen
tratiOn of Huns gathered for the de
Tense of the Kriemhilde line. Pausin,
to permit their artillery to pour
rain of shells on the German positions
a for 10 hours, the Yanks advanced t,
the attack Wednesday, and by bril-
liant and swift advance broke through
2 the enemy line. To the right Of then
other troops forced their way through
the Cunel wood, and this made, pos
sible the storming Of the Mamel trencl
Of the Kriemhilde position. The en-
gineers were advancing right alon,
/. with the infantry, clearing the wa,
through the entanglements. 1mportan
heights south of the Marco were cap
tured, and the Yankees Joined hand,