The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-09-12
Washington Thinks That
Huns Must Fight or Re-
treat on Large Scale
100000 MEN LOST
IN GERMANS FLIGHT
Generally Believed That Lack of Fight
ing Forces is What Caused Enemy to
Abandon Territory He Took in
Spring-Preparing to Leave Douai.

WASHINGTON, Sept. l2.-Behind the
apparent lull in the battle in France.
events are swiftly shaping for operations
of crucial Importance, in the opinion of
officials here who are keeping in hour-to-
hour touch with developments. These
observers believe a weeks time will see
either the greatest battle of the war in
progress along the old Hindenburg line
| or the enemy again in full retreat toward
the Belgian front, refusing to meet Mar
shall Foch's forces.
| THERE'S evidence that the German high
command may plan further extensive
withdrawal in order to shorten its defen
| sive lines and ease the strain upon Ger
many's waning man power
| There is now little doubt that it was
lack of fighting electives that forced the
enemy to abandon all he had gained in
! his drive of this year and narrow his
/ front Unofficial estimates from France
say the Germans have left behind them
| during the withdrawal more than 300, 444
prime fighting men-killed, badly wound
ed or prisoners. This is in addition to
the heavy losses in the frontal attacks
by which the enemy early in the summer
drove his way toward Paris and the
channel ports.
With such losses as these draining the
ranks and with American troops pouring
! into France at the rate of 100000 a
month, it would not surprise officers here
if the German leaders have been com
PEELED to fix upon a much shorter front
than the old Hindenburg line as one which
would offer any hope of staying the allies
onward march
Unofficial reports from Dunkirk where
allied air patrols are based. indicate that
the preparations to evacuate Douai
northern cornerstone of the Hndenbure
arc in France. are we'll advanced. The
allied airmen are said to have seen the
enemy airdromes and aviation stations
- miles beyond Douai being hastily evac
uated of heavy material.
From other sources come reports that
the civil populations ofsthe towns in Ger
man hands ID This region are being driver
out, step which always precedes a with
! drawal by the enemy
There is little doubt in the minds o.
officers here that Douai could be held onl,
at great cost. if the British are sent for
ward to take it Already Sir Douglas
Haig's men have firm hold astride tn,
line between Douai and Cambria. and oh
servers believe it will be little short of
military miracle if the enemy. out of tn
confusion unavoidable in his swift re
treat, can organize defence for Douai
Cambria, st. Quentin or La Fere whicl
can resist successfully the full weight 0
the allied armies.
If these towns fall the Hindenburg lin
goes with them. probably along the Who'll
length. it is said.
Official dispatches from France said or
ders had been issued by the Germa
command to get wounded men back int
4 the ranks even before complete cures hav
1 been effected, to employ at once Germa
/ prisoners released by the Russians. eve
| though they had not fully recovered thei
/ strength and health, and to turn caviar
/ into infantry to fill gaps in the ranks
II Other orders, the despatch said. diree
\ that at certain intervals, in quiet sector:
II IN Austro Hungarian division be place
H between two German divisions or tina
II Austrian soldiers be distributed in Ger
man regiments in proportion of 80 to
company to make up the full compan
strength of about go men,