The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-10-19
CONDENSED WAR BULLETIN.
AILIED FORCES UNDER KING
ALBERT CONTINUE TO DRIVE
THE INVADERS FROM BEL
GIAN SOIL AT RAPID
PACE.
Big Allied Gains In East, Notwith-
standing Furious Efforts Of Huns,
American and French Continue
Their Advance in Champaign.

Unconfrned rumorS are in the air
that Germany has capitulated and that
Emperor William has abdicated. The
runors emanated from Dutch and
Swiss sources but as yet the German
government has not officially inform
ed either the Washington or London
governments of it's intention to ac-
cept in their, entirety the conditions
for q cessation of hostilities as laid
down by President Wilson.
Meanwhile hostilities are proceed
ing without cessation and as in days
past the forces Of the Allies every
where are defeating the enemy. In
Belgian Flanders the British, Belgium
and. French troops under King Albert
are sweeping forward for further ma
terial gains in the process of driving
the invaders from Belgian soil. On
the front in France the British,
French and Americans are hard after
the Germans and are making pro-
gress although slowly notwithstand-
ing the strenuous defense which is be-
ing offered.
Both in Serbia and Albania the En-
tenfe troops are ridding the invaded
districts of the Austro-Hungarian and
German contingents, in Albania being
well to the north Of Durazzo on the
Adriatic sea and in Serbia a consider
able distance beyond Nish with the
enemy falling back toward the from
tier of Austro-Hungary.
&, IN the Palestine theatre the Brit
ish cavalry has driven far to the
north and northwest of Damascus
having reached Tripoli, near the
Mediterranean coast, ,orty-fve miles
north Of Beirut, and HONS, eighty
Ave miles north Of Damascus. By this
maneuYer there seemingly is created
for the ottoman forces the means o.
again being caught between Gen. Al
ienby's armies and crushed as was
the case in the early days Of the Of
fensive in the region north 0 Jerusa-
len. The maneuver also may forcase
a new drive by the British from the
Ragdad region to form junction
with Gen. Allenby at Aleppo and thus
take the Holy Land in its entirety
from the Turks.
The great wedge Of the Allies IL.
Flanders is being gradually extended
eastward all along the front OF at
tack. -. ''-.'s's'. -
Thorocut, at the head, of the rail-
way leading to. Bruges and numerous
villages to the. south have been taken
while Courtra;, the junction point Of
the railway to Ghent, is almost en-
4Neg surrounded. Large numbers OF
prisoners and many additional guns
hsYe been captured by the Belgian
French and British troops who are
carrying out the operation.
70 the south of this region the
British continue successfully their
rnaneuver which has as :ts main OBJ
5ective the capture Of Douai and
Lille, and the b1otting ont Of the big
salient which is barring the way tc
syaIenciennes and the German de-
tense line in that vicinity. Here the
Germans are continuing to with
draw, closely followed by the British
who are within two and half miles
ana three and three e-quarter miles o.
Lille, respectively, southwark and
west of the city.
In the Champagne region where
the French and Americans are driv-
ing their way northward further
good gains have been made notwith-
standing the furious efforts of the
Germans to hold their line.
e 49,.