The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-11-06
HUNSRETREATON
S5-MILE FRONT
Forced to Realization of I'M
pending Peril by Allied
Armies Progress. :
RETIREMENT HEADL0NG
British, French and Americans
Press Teutons-Scheldt Line
No Longer Protection. il
(By Associated Press.)

Forced to a realization Of impending
peril by the progress Of the British
southeast Of Valenciennes and the
French and Americans south of Sedan,
Germany's shattered armies are in
rapid retreat from the Belgian frontier
to the Aisne river. So rapid is the re-
tirement that 1t is very difficult to de-
termine the exact location of the con-
tending forces along this eighty-five
miles of front.
British forces have cleared the bar
rier of Normal forest and threaten to
drive a wedge between Mons and
Maubeuge. To the south the French
launched an attack that has forced the
enemy back from three to four miles.
while along the Meuse. the Americans.
in close cooperation. To the south
the French just to, the westward. have
overcome stubtt9h resistance by the
enemy and moved stilI nearer the
an-Longuyon railroad. There Is
I evidence that the Germans are not
carrying out the orderly retreat that
htu tiitil iCtHtiiituI iiOIii tic
Marne and Somme salients. Batteries
of field guns. with horses attached,
have been captured and u vast guam
tity of munitions which could be moved
quickly under ordinary circumstances
has fallen into the hands of the allies.
To the north, Ghent Is closely invested
by the French, Belgian and British
troops. The fight there apparently is
between German rear guards and the
allied forces, for civilians are said TO
be close behind the lines. and Queen
Elizabeth, of Belgium, watched the be-
ginning Of the assault against the city.
The line of the Scheldt no longer lis
any protection to the enemy in Bel
gium. 1t has been crossed everywhere
from Client to Valenciennes, and it Is
probable that allied troops have been
flung across the canal north Of Client.
Between Ghent and Brussels there is
no great natural obstacle except the
Dendree river which will aid the Ger
mans in conducting defensive opera
tions and 1t seems probable that the
enemy will not turn at bay until he
| reaches the Namur- Brussels Antwerp
! line, which Is said to have been pre-
pared for grim struggle.
i American forces north Of Verdun
have crossed the Meuse at three places
and have gained ground on the east
side of the river. This advance is most
important, for 1t threatens the Sedan
/ Longuyon line at new point and re-
moves from the Germans the advantage
OF having a position on the flank of
, the American forces advancing north
ward on the western side of the
stream. Sedan must be under artillery
fire from the medium calibre Amer
| lean guns.
! Emperor Charles, of Austria, Is said
| to have refused to sign the armistice
agreement with the allied powers and
over his authority of COM
mander-in- chief of the army to Field
Marshal Straussenburg. 1t is rumored
that the emperor has abdicated and
has started for Switzerland, where
King Constantine took refuge after
being compelled to relinqush the
Grecian throne.
| The interallied conference at Ver-
sailles has agreed on the terms of an
armistice. This decision was sent to
President Wilson in answer to his
communication turning over to the
conference the request that he notify
the allies Of the desire of Germany to
end the war. President Wilson has
In turn notified the German govern
ment that 1t may apply to Marshal
Foch. commander in chief of the allied
forces, who is authorized to receive
| duly accredited representatives and
submit to them the terms agreed upon
| by the associated nations