Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-10-12
British. French and Amer.
lean Forces Continue
Rapid Advance.
ENEMY NEAR ROUT
IN CHAMPAGNE
Retiring From Suippe River Toward
Aisne With Great Haste-Germans
Destroying Bridges in Effort to I'M
pede Progress Of Allies - Many
Towns Behind German Lines on
Fire-Ailied Attack in Italy.
tBy the Associated Press.l

ne 0STIU6U yhVSS AbS
Suippe river. in the Champagne
sector in France, have collapsed.
Progress made by the French dur
ing the past day in this part OF
the battle front would seem to in
dieate that the enemy's retreat
northward is more of flight than
an orderly retirement
French forces are reported TO
have reached the Retournen river,
between HoutdiIecourt and Sault-
St. Remy. Houtdilecourt is less
than four miles east Of Neufehatel,
one Of the principal German bases
back Of the Champagne front.
This advance brings the French
up ta-ssithin two and ono half
miles Of the Aisne and threatens
the railroad line that parallels that
stream.
Further east the French have
not advanced 50 quickly but have
nade> good progress.
General Gouraud's men have
swept northward and are less than
tw9 miles from vouziercs, an i'm
portant railroad junction. They
are near Susny and have almost
reached Machault.
French and Italians have moved
rapidly along the chemin Des
DANES and northward from the
Aispe. They have reached the vi
einity Of Allies, which is on tho
ridge between the Ailette and the
Aisne, southwest Of Laon.
Blazing villages in. tho valley Of
the Disc are reported in the Of
fetal statement Of the French war
office issued last evening. This
refers to the section in Tho vi.
I cinity Of La Fere, where the fihst
German retirement was reported
yesterday. These fires are looked
upon as evidence that-thc enemy
is preparing to abandon rhat re-
gion AZ we'll as the hiJn wooded
p-sssif Of St. Gobain, to the south.
From the NArsonne forest east
ward to the high ground east. Of
tho Meuse tho American army
that has broken the KriemhiId
line during the fighting Of the last
few days. 10 continuing its bioss
at the enemy. New progress has
been made near Grand Pro. Far
ther east tho village Of Romasne
10 now close to the American lines
and fierce fighting has been going
on. here. German resistance hers
\ has been desperate and fighting
east Of the Mouse has been siren
uous.
The Germans have paused in
their flight before the Anglo
American advance from the Cam
brai-St. Quentin line long enough
to attempt a stand along tho seIls
river southwark from the tip OF
tho allied wedge at Le cateau.
Momentarily, therefore, the limo
appears stationary along this front,
whore the Anemy has hastily dug
in.
Field Marshal Haig, in his Off
eiaI report today, did not mention
any now forward movement here. :
Tho line 10 unstable, however, and
the German defensss are desc ribed
40 merely scratches on the sur
face. .
There seems every probability
that the allied drive will be re-
sumsd 40 soon 40 the guns and
transports catch up with the nd.
vanced elements. ~
Meanwhile the British swesp on
the more northeriy front has re-.
IuIted in close approach to the
city OF Douai. Closing IN on the
southwest and northwest the orit-
ish are hardly more than Z nils
and half from the center Of the
PLACE, thru thsir capture Of
culnchy, and the announcement Of
Douai's fall at-any hour would not
be surprising. III.
Equally sweeping advances are
being made by the French il the
Champagne. The German front
seems to have lost its power Of
resistance = and General Petain's
troops have made q quick advance
Of from three TO four miles. "
The important town Of vouxisrs
has been penetrated and the French |,
line in Champagne has bssr brought
20 . level with Il far "a -ths west
,alcrp ths Rstsurns rivsr. 5s h