The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-09-26

Great possibilities might result
from a successful allied advance on
the front east of Rheims as the Ger
nan communication would be severed
and the formidable enemy positions
from Arras to Laon endangered with
the important southern end out
flanked. The length of the attacking
front is not disclosed, but it may pos
sibly be from Rheims eastward past
Verdun to southwest Of Metz.
The FrancoAmerican attack on the
Champagne front is the first allied
thrust made on that sector since Mar
shall Foch assumed the initiative In
July. and is the logical result of the
allied success in Picardy in driving
the Germans back to the Hindenburg
line from Arras to Laon.
Military critics have pointed out
that the Champagne front was the
logical place where an allied effort in
tended to destroy the effectiveness OF
the Hindenburg line could be made.
For some distance east of Rheims the
terrain is fairly level and open and
an advance of some distance here
would outflank Laon and possibly st.
Quentin.
Might Separate Forces.
More important still. such an ad-
vance would sever the communication
lines eastward from Laon, the pivot
OF the German defenses between
Rheims and Ypres. An allied break
through might separate the German
forces in the west into two groups.
There has been rather lively raid
ing activity by both sides on the
Champagne front in the last. two
weeks and some military comrnenta-
tors have felt that these were the
forerunners of greater activity.
In Macedonia the allies are ad-
yancing all along the 130 mile "
shaped front between Monastir and
army on the allied left has been
placed in a dangerous position by the
splitting of the Prilep-Veles road at
Izvor. where the Serbians are in the
outskirts of Ishtib, IS miles east OF
: yeles, and one of the bases OF the
, Bulgarian second army. Apparently
the Veles-lshtib line, the most formid-
able for the enemy south OF Uskub.
will prove untenable.
North Of Lake Doiran, British
troops have crossed the frontier into
Bulgarian Macedonia threatening the
extreme enemy left flank.
Push Toward ST. Quentin.
Enemy territory was invaded at Nos
turino. a few miles south of Strumitsa.
the Bulgarian base in the region north
of Lake Dorian. Kosturino is at the
head waters OF the Trekanya river.
which flows through virtually level
country to Strumitsa. Meanwhile the
T.
ward from the Nardar river in the
direction of Strumitsa, which is sit
uated in valley between two high
mountain ranges.
In local operations between Cam
brai and ST. Quentin on the western
front the British are pushing farther
into the Hindenburg line and captur-
ing points vital to the defenses Of ST.
Quentin. West and northwest of ST.
Quentin the British have advanced in
the region Of the Selency and Gri-
court.
$4,000 Turks Prisoner.
Bulgaria has been invaded by al
lied troops. according to British Of
ficial statement issued today.
The fourth Turkish army on the
Palestine front is virtually surrounded
in the region east Of the Jordan and
faces annihilation by General Allen
by's forces, today's advices show.
The total Of prisoners already taken
was increased today to $4,000.
- The annihilation of the fourth army.
now hoped for. would complete the
cleaning up Of the Turkish forces in
Palestine accounting, for about $4,000
men.
The capture of French and Ameri-
cans in Lorraine to the east of Moselle,
IS reported in today's German army
headquarters statement.