The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-10-03

|United Press
War Summary
1,5a2nd day Of the war.

1,522nd day Of the war.
Flanders front-The fighting front
n Flanders now has spread from
3ixmude southwark, in a wide semi
:ircIe, to Lens, a distance OF about
sixty miles. The Germans yesterday
began new retirement on the lower
third Of this front, between Lens and
Armentieres. Already they have re-
treated two miles and are still fall
ing back. This apparently is the
first step In the evacuation OF Bel
3ian territory, reported to have been
definitely decided upon by the Ger
man staff some time ago.
Picardy front-The British re-
sumed their attack north OF st.
Quentin this morning, evidently In
an attempt to effect another breach
in the Beaurevoir-Fonsonn sub
sIdiary line, behind the Hindenburg
defenses, where a break through was
nearly accomplished yesterday. The
Germans restored the situation there
by a desperate counter attack which
closed up the gap and pushed the
British back slightly.
The French attacking south OF
ST. Quentin are nearing the Disc
river at Berthenleourt, thus extend
ina the northern encirclins move
ment, which is destined to pinch OF
the St. Gobain massif and laon, in
con junction with the thrust north
ward, west of Rheims.
Rheims front-GeneraI Berthelot,
attacking northwest of Rheims, has
carried his line forward to within
les than three miles of Berry-Au-6ac
nd less than five miles Of Craonne.
This Is the companion movement TO
that south Of ST. Quentin.
Rhelms-verdun front-The French
drive in the Champagne region was
resumed at dawn today. Yesterdays 8
attacks resulted In the capture OF
chalIeranee, on the western fringe
Of the Arsonne forest. In the Ar
oonne region, the Germans are re-
ported to be falling back before the
-Ameriofns, between the Meuse anc
the Argonne forest.
Evacuation Of Belgium, hoped and
fouqht for by the allies through four
bitter years, appeared to be under
way today.
Field Marshal Raig in his ni9h'
communiuqe announced that the Ger
mans beoan to retreat on wide
front north and south Of the lasas
see canal yesterday morning. Brit
jsh tropos were pursuing them
closely.
Earlier unofficial reports from vari
Gus sources stated that virtually
complete withdrawal from Belgium
has been contemplated by the Ger
man high command for some time.
BeIaian troops, according to the
latest official reports, have practical
ly surrounded Roulers, while the pro
Dress of the AnsIo-eeigian armies has
necessitated immediate steps foi
evacuation of the great industrial
center of Lille and the submarine
bases of ostend, Brugges and Zee
bruoae, regardless of any previous
plans of the enemy.
| Coincident with the reported with
drawaI in Belgium, the Germans a
the other extreme Of the long battle
front have begun retrograde move
ment between the Meuse and ths
Aruonne forest, according to staff dis
patches from the American front
These stated the enemy is falling
hack from his advanced positions t.
tn. newly constructed kriemhiide
SteIluna line which runs west o
| Grandpre to the vicinity OF Damvl!
lers.
Next in importance to the selgai
situation appears to be the gfganti'
encirclino movement which is gradu
alIy pinchina off the great st. Go
I balm rassif. General Debeney, oper
/ atino south of ST. Quentin, is report
/ teh who'll
i front between that city and lafer
as the northern half OF this eneirc
ling movement.
To the south General BertheIot /
adding to the enemy's danger D.
striking northward, west OF Hneims
| His troops are now less than nv
miles south of craonne.
! French military experts see as
result of this pineers operation mad
possible through the capture OF .
Quentin, an immense German retrea'
extending from east of laon IN Tn
Champagne region.
/ occupatIon of Cambria, accordin
to Hala's night report, had not bee
f,,Ily accomplished late yesterda,
British troops were still occupyin
IN. northern and southwestern ou
skirts.
( Northeast of ST. Quentin where
British break-through appeared IN
n,inent through breach OF the seaur
voIr-Fonsomme subsidiary oe1ehs
line. the Germans aVeTeo 'ne imr ~
pending catastrophe by a terrir
counter attack which threw the sri
ish back and permitted the enemy
reoccupy SeQuehart.
The fall of Damascus, officially a
nouneed yesterday, added 900 pr
op.rs to General elIenby's haul