The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-10-07
LAON SET ABLAZE
BYHOPELESSFOE
Retreat in Progress on Front
From Suippe to Arnes
and South Cambria.
BRITISH NEARING LILLE.
Peace Proposals Not Checking
German Staff's Policy
of Destruction.
BRITISH NEARING LILLE

Paris, Oct. 7.-Laon, the stronghold
to which the enemy has been clinging
as the key point of his line on the
southwest, apparently has been set
aflre by the Germans. The town was
reported ablaze yesterday and fires
were still burning there today.
Rheims has been finally and def
nitely cleared from the menace Of Ger
man cannon. The Germans are in re-
treat on the whole front from the
Suippe to the Arnes, as well as in the
region south Of Cambria.
In the first named sector the allies
have reached the Arnes river, on which
the enemy hoped to make stand. In
the second region the British Fourth
army has crushed counter attacks
which the enemy delivered in an ef-
fort to prevent its progress toward
Bohain and cover their retreat to the
south.
These two movements of retreat
from a part of a plan which was to
have brought the German armies to
new lines of resistance much nearer
the frontier 1t appears, but the con-
slant pressure of the allied. troops Is
making the execution Of the plan most
difficult and hazardous. The peace
proposals of the central powers are in
no way interfering with the policy Of
destruction the German staff seems to
have decided upon. Sallaumines, near
Lens, is burning, and fires have been
seen west and southwest of Lille and
between Douai and Souain. The
troops advancing in the Champagne
found Nogent-L'Abbessee Beine and
all the villages in the valley of the
Suippe in flames.
Laon has been ablaze since yester-
day, indicating that the enemy may be
about to leave that region, as the
Chemin -des- Danes. already turned by
Gen. Mangin on the west, has been
turned on the east by the troops who
have crossed the Aisne at several
points in the vicinity of Berry-au-
Bac. making it appear that the Laon-
nois area is no longer tenable.
British Make Progress.
London, Oct. Further progress
was made by the British last night on
the front between Lens and Cambria.
Field Marshal Haig announced today
that posts have been established on
crossings of the Scheldt canal north Of
Aubencheul-a Bac, and east Of Oppy.
The British also have pushed in
slightly further toward Lille on the
west and southwest, capturing a Ger
man post east Of Berclau and progress
ing somewhat north OF Wez Macquart.
French Cross suippe.
Paris, Oct. s7.-French troops have
crossed the Suippe river eastward Of
Granville and have reached the out
skirts Of Bazancourt and Boul-sur-
Suippe after severe fighting. 1t ls off,
cially announced. AT elemental Arnes
heavy losses have been inflicted upon
the Germans, who retired in disorder.
Sundays fighting completed the deliv-
erance Of Rheims.
The battle north of st. Quentin con-
tinued all day end Remaucourt. Tilley
farm and several fortified woods were
captured, the announcement says. The
enemy resisted furiously but was un-
able to check the French, who captured
several hundred prisoners.
Washington, Cct. Z. Slight advances
yesterday by tha American forces be-
tween the Meuse and the Bois-des-
Agons in heavy infantry fighting was
reported today by Gen. Pershing. He
also reported increased artillery activ-
ity everywhere on both sides.