Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1918-10-15
new ALLIED DRIVE
FLANKS C0URTRAI
Great Surprise Blow Wins
Roulers and Other Strate-
gic Points in Flanders
MAY CLEAR THE
NORTH SEA BASES

both sides Of the River Lys. The al
He'd leaders purpose apparently is to
break the grip OF the enemy on west
ern Belgium.
In their first thrust the British,
French and Belgian forces penetrated
10 the immediate neighborhood Of Rou-
lers. if not actually into that city.
courtrai, junction point OF the railroad
70 Client, is flanked and in imminent
aanger OF being cut Off. Allied forces
have advanced on both sides Of Cour-
tral. and to the north they have
reached Roulers, Il is semi-ohlcially re-
ported. French alone captured 5000
prisoners.
Belgian forces cooperating with the
British and French in these operations
captured several batteries Of artillery
and many prisoners. The Allied forces
pushed north until they were within
range OF the German big guns on the
coast, but there was no fire from these,
which confirmed earlier reports that
the Germans had taken these guns
away. There was a persistent rumOr
among The soldiers that British war
ships had entered the harbor al Os-
tend and that they had bOmbarded the
German gun positions there and to the
east.
In the Laon neighborhood the French,
after liberating that city, continuing
20 push nOrthward, freeing villages as
they go. Everywhere in this vicinity
the Germans are retreating and there
Is evidence that their retrograde move
ment has been under way for several
DAYS. perhaps weeks. The country is
stripped clean OF everything OF value.
So far the French have not found
signs OF confusion in the enemy retire
ment from the Laon and Lafere re-
giOns.
on the extreme eastern end Of the
battle line. where the Americans are
fighting, stiff resistance is being en-
countered from the Germans, who ap-
parently are determined to halt the
great threat against their positions.
Realizing as they do that an advance
on the Meuse valley would cut on their
lateral lines Of communication and
seriously hamper, If not defeat their
efforts to get their forces out Of France
and Belgium, the Germans are send
ing in reinforcements against the
Americans. Counter attacks have be-
come matters Of almost hourly occur
renee. The Americans are holding their
own, however. waiting for the Germans
20 wear out the first fury OF their re-
sistance before continuing their thrust
on a big scale.
Widespread Retreat Continues.
In Champagne, where General Man
gins left is operating, the French are
entirely across the Allette and in many
places they have crossed the Aisne,
despite the DESTRUCTION OF bridges by
the retreatlng Germans and a some
what stiffened resistance all along the
line.
Here. as further east, against the
Americans, the enemy has succeeded In
placing some artillery batteries, and
these are working desperately in an
effort 20 stay the Allies. Gas shells are
being used freely. making the work
n the French and Americans extremely
Iow Allied artillery IS answering the
herman guns two shots for one, now
ever. ana at no place has the advance
been stopped entirely
Air pil0ts report thot tie German re-
treat continues on practically the en-
. fire battle front, the civil population
being driven. like cattle. before the re-
firing hosts Of the Kaiser. In Belgium,
particularly. there is evidence that the
vreat mass Of civilians, all converging
INTO a constantly narrowing area, IS
seriouslv hampering the Germans IN
their efforts 10 get their men and ma
lerlals out Of the territory Trdinc on
an roads and railways Is heavily con-
british. Belgian and French forces at
tackled at dawn yesterday on a Wlue
front in Flanders. The Allied troops
are driving in the general direction OF
Client and COurtrai.
The attack seems to be generally from
Confines to the northward. Inc troops
M the three nations went into actoh
after a "crash" bOmbardment only.
There was no preliminary lombard
ment. Il undoubtedly tactically sur
prised the enemy.
In the British formations were soine
Of Great Britain's best troops, ana the
forces Of the French were OF FAMOUS
fghtIng organizations. The Germans
appear. perhaps, prepared to retire u
The Client line.
Nv fbe fury with which the attack
was launched it is evident that the
Ogbtinr armies are not paying the
slightest attention TO the. peace talk.
fTbev smashed forward with all the dash
characterizing the recent operations
The blow In Flanders may prove 10
he Marshal FOchs masterstr0ke. II the
Allied progress is continued the Ter
mans throughout a wide stretch OF ter
ritory, taking in the most important
mart OF the Belgian coast including pos
sIhlv the important German submarine
bases as well as the forces in the en-
tire Lille salient, will either nave "
get out or face a second sedan.
Immediately the Flanders attack pc
gan the British troops drove llrst lor
the Comines-Menin railway. NO tanks
are reported to be participating In this
offensive. III.
The Germans are weak numerically
on this front. numbering fewer than M
teen divisions, and those are in poor
condition.
Il is known, partly as the result OF
enemy graves counted, that the Der ao
mans have suffered more than iU,OOC
casualties in the Lys salient in the last
three months.
JDENDORFF RESIGNS IN RAGE.
GENEVA, Oct. i5.-General Luden-
dorff flew into a rage and offered MS
resignation last week. according 10
report from Munich.
The generals ire was aroused when
ne found that the first German note
had resulted in bringing out the fact