The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-10-14

the Ghent line.
Reports from the advanced posi-
tions this morning indicated that the
three groups Of allied troops were
making excellent progress in the Bel
gian coast salient from which the
Germans have been preciptately re-
moving war material for two weeks.
The British are pressing in on both
sides Of Douai. Field Marshal Haig's
official statement today reports gains
of ground both north and south Of
the city.
French troops last night continued
to keep in contact with the retiring
Germans, the French war office an
nounced today. The French repulsed
the remaining enemy troops showing
resistance on the north bank of the
Aisne canal south of Chateau-Porcein.
Ignore Peace Talk.
BY the fury with which the attack
was launched it is evident that the
fighting armies are not paying the
They smashed forward with all the
tions.
The blow in Flanders may prove to
Marshal Foch's master stroke. If the
allied progress is continued the Ger
mans, throughout wide stretch of
territory taking in the most important
part Of the Belgian coast including
possibly the important German sub
marine bases as well as the forces in
IL
have to get out or face a second Sc
dan.
Attack American Line
Violent artillery actions were in
progress today along the greater part
of the American front Little change
was made in the line but the Germans
late last night laid down barrages that
were preparatory to counter attacks Of
a small but vicious character
The most determined effort made by
the enemy was on the left across the
river Aire between st. Juvin and ST.
Georges. The Germans advanced in
open order and fought with a steadi-
ness that indicated fresh troops. With
in an hour, however. the American ar
tillery, supporting the line Of infantry
with machine guns, had brought the
IllllS Intensive 10 d udlt.
Serbs Capture Nish
After capturing Nish on Saturday,
Serbian forces took possession of the
enemy positions north of the town, ac-
cording to the Serbian official state
ment issued today French cavalry
have occupied the Bella Planka
French newspapers believe that as
result of the continuous advance OF
the allies, the Germans will be forced
hastily to retreat to the Lille-M Meier
es-MetZ line.
The German retreat is being carried
out with difficulty owing to the bom-
bardment of railroads by airpans
Large amounts of booty are abandon
ed by the Germans everywhere. Brit
ish troops are reported to have out
flanked Bouchain and to be advanc-
ing on Denain, from which town they
are only three miles distant.
American forces are advancing in
the direction of Quu-surMeuse, in the
Argonne sector, according to the In
transigeant
Abandon ST. Gobain.
German forces have abandoned
Laon and the whole ST. Gobain reg
ion. The French, after re-occupying
LdOIl, nave pTeSSeu Oh until tU6lT line
now runs from the Disc river above
LaFere to the eastern end of Chemin
des Danes
When the Germans began to fall
back out of the bag into which they
were being slowly caught by the rapid
advance of the allies on each side
they went with such speed that the
change in the battle line in that sec
tion of the front during a few hours
was astonishing. Not until the French
reached the Laon-La Fere railroad did
they encounter any real resistance.
Italian troops participated in the
advance and are now engaged on the
hills north of the Ailette river At
this particular point the German lines
have been pressed back or have been
withdrawn SO that sharp angle has
been created.
Advance Slowed Down.
With the exception of the area
north OF Douai. there appears to have
been slowing down of the allied ad-
vance during the past couple of days.
At no point have the British and