The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-10-17
IN HEAVY RAINS AND SEAS
OF MUD TROOPS OF
ALLIES DRIVE
APPROACHING COURTRAY
Aviators Report Fires Over Vast
Area-German Functionary in
Belgium Declares Occupation
Will End Within a Few Days
More Retreats Expected.
BULLETIN, HOG a. m.
Paris, Oct. 16.-British patrols
entered the southwestern suburbs
of Lille this morning.

b
Paris. Oct. l6.-The German ex-
treme right wing is being threaten
ed more and more as the allied
wedge in Flanders is driven deeper.
The enemy resistance seems to be
slackening in Flanders and it is be-
lieved here that important results
may be seen within few days.
Already, the advance of the allies
is from two and one-half to five
miles on a thirty mile front. On
the right the British hold Menin and
Wervicq and have Courtrai almost
within their grasp.
Evacuation of the great industrial
centers of Lille, Roubeix and Tour
Going seems inevitable as the result
of this gain.
On the left bank the Belgians are
approaching Thourout, only twelve
miles from the Bruges and within
twenty miles of the Dutch frontier.
There are signs that the Germans
realize the days OF their occupation
of Belgium are numbered. They al
ready have begun the work OF de-
struction in Belgium. According to
information reaching Paris, the Ger
mans are preparing to get out OF
Bruges and Ghent, and even Brus-
sells.
Paris. Oct 16.-A high, German
funGtionary in Belgium declared Oc-
tobcr that German occupation OF
BRUSSELS would end at the latest
within fifteen days, according to
reliable information received in Lon
don, says the correspondent OF the
Echo de Paris.
All OF the civilian population
along the Belgian coast has been
moved back of the coast, and Brit
ish aviators are said to be reporting
fires over vast area.
With the Allied Armies in Bel
gium. Oct. Is (Tuesday) (9 p NJ
(By The Associated Press)-Menin
has fallen. Allied troops are mile
east of Roulers and advanced patrols
are. according to latest reports,
within a mile of Courtrai. The Lys
river seems to have been crossed be
tween Confines, which has been cap
tured and Warneton. Reports indi-
cate that another crossing OF the
Lys has been effected at Wernicq.
South of the zone where the mud
spattered allied troops fighting their
way forward through the rain and
the mist and over sticky ground the
enemy has begun withdrawal
His troops are being moved back
ward from Pont Nenin and Ber-
clau and from the Rolleghem front.
Here. British patrols have reached
outskirts of the town OF Neurchin.
Big Rear Guard Actions
7verywhere the Germans are
fighting rear guard actions with
large numbers OF men involved in
the struggle. The battle is being
fought in a continuous rain. which
makes the fighting Increasingly dit
fcult. Troops storming ahead lose
their footing in ooze. some sinking
in as far as their knees. The wound
returning from the front are plas-
tered with mud.
Cuerne has been stormed and
taken and the Belgians have cap
tured Bevern station. They are east
and north of the Bevern canal and
are before Iseghem.
Today's gains have further turned
the German lines both north and
south of the area under attack. and
the enemy retirement reported from
the southwark is the result. Further
on broad scale may be
expected unless the weather con-
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