The sun., 1918-10-16
Railroad Centres in Bel
gium Fall as Armies Con-
tinue Advance
GERMANS QUIT COAST
Evacuation Of Ostend and
Zeebrugge Reported as
in Progress.
BIG GAINS EAST OF LAON
Enemy Making Desperate De-
fence of Metz Railroad to
Save Whole Army.
BIG GAINS EAST OF LAON

LONDON. Oct. Is. - The Belgian
drive in Flanders, which began yes
terday, was continued to-day with
even greater success, Thourout and
Menin, with half a dozen villages,
passing into the hands Of the Belgian,
British and French troops, who now
are practically in the suburbs Of
Lille, the Belgians within two miles
and the British within three.
Apparently the time has come for
the capture of Lille, the greatest sup
ply point that the Germans have on
the western front and the largest
city in northern France. With the
fall OF Lille the Germans must give
up all western Belgium, including the
coast cities. On this front yesterday
and to-day more than 10000 prison.
ers and 100 guns we're captured. The
maximum penetration was between
six and seven miles on front Of
about thirty.
Menin Is an important railway CEN
tire, about four miles northwest Of
Turcoing, while upon Thourout
large part of the German railway
system in western Belgium hinged
The advance brings the allied troops
within two miles Of Courtrai. French
cavalry are advancing on LIGHTER
velde, between Thourout and Roulers.
having crossed the railroad between
tl'ose cities. The Courtrai-Ingelmun-
ster railroad has been reached.
German Resistance Weaker.
The German resistance on this paft
Of the battle front .s markedly weaker.
They seem to be Withdrawing as rap
idly as possible all the material In this
region that can be saved. Both Oetend
and Zeeorugge are about to be or have
been abandoned. Reports have been
received here that several large Ger
man torpedo boats left Zeebrugge re-
Gently loaded to their capacity with
troops and proceeded to Germany. o.
tend also Is being evacuated. as the
loss OF Thourout makes the German
In their drive for Lille the British
have penetrated to Haubourdin, which
IS three miles southwest OF the city. A
little to the southwest, In the Lens dis
trict, they have pushed eastward
across the Haute DeuIe Canal, on both
sides Of Pont-a-Vendin, and have
taken the villages of Estevelles, Meur-
chin and Bouvin.
Since Sunday morning eigh: ct ths
German front l!na divisions In Flanders
have been flung baci; broken and con-
fused. while probably ell or most OF
the divisions held in reserve behind
them received q heavy gruelling.
This apparently has not been bat
tie Of limited obJeciivts. but rather q
drive, and where towns resisted at all
strongly the line has pushed on. closing
again beyond and leaving clearing up
parties TO finish the work.
Town Found to BE Mined.
The lighting has been obstinate IN
places. but apparently nowhere desper-
ate. II is believed there viii be large
additions to the number OF prisoners
and guns already announced as captured
Roulers was found TO he almost I'M
damaged. Many mines were discovered
by French sappers and the wires to
them cut, thus neutra!lziHs the danger
Between Lens and Armentieres il is
reported there are signs OF an enemy
withdrawal from the front line. In fact
from all along the whole OF the western
front the news Is good.
Ial
On the southern side OF the great sa-
lient. east OF tho I.aor district the
French and Americans made important
additions 10 their gains. South Of the
Serre they occupied Monceau-les-Loups
and reached a point half q mile south OF
Assissur-Serre, Slssonne was captured
and the advance continued on to the
cast. In this operation Italian troopS
gave material aid.
Further gains were made on tho
north bank OF the Aisne In this re-
gion, the French and Americans ad-
vancing past the villages OF Malmaison,
Lor. lie Thour ana ST. Gerlnainmont.
The Aisne was crossed at several points
north of Blan2y. Still further east
French troops advanced to c. point about
w" "''es .'Oh i'etneI' capturing tns
town Of Nantcuil-sir-A -AiS"E.
IL the ArgonEe res!,n they have
reached the Aisne Ses, Of Grand Pro,
taking the villages Of Cl!Ly and Termes,
with about 1000 prisoners. They ara
only about two miles distant from Meyi.
eres, which IL on the great German
trunk railroad between the western pare
OF the battle front and Meta
To give an idea OF the German losses
in Champagne, the PETIT Parisiers quotes
the evidence o; an enemy PRISON. who