The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-11
HUN lines FALL
BEFORE FIGHTING
FORCES OF ALLIES
Evacuation of st. GObain For
est Is Due Immediately.
Yanks Busy West of the Meuse
River Today.
EVACUATE CHEMIN DES DANES
Germans Seem To Be Ready To
Retreat From DOuai.
General Petain's Troops Are in
Sensational Drive.
Yanks Busy West of the Meuse
River Today.
EVACUATE CHEMIN DES DANES
fRy the Associated Press.l

tBy the Associated PreSS.1
The grip of the Germans on north
ern France has been loosened and the
process of herding them back to their
borders is proceeding at an increasing
ly rapid pace under the allied lash.
Already since the beginning of the
July offensive, which initiated the
1oosening process, the allies have
pushed the enemy back a maximum of
forty-five miles from the Ancre. near
Albert, to the tip Of the present Anglo
American wedge at Lee Cateau.
A scant 25 miles more will bring
them on this line to the Belgian from
tier, south of Maubeuge. But long
before that point is reached the pres
sure on all sides, if continued at the
present rate, will have resulted in the
clearing of the enemy from virtual
ly all French territory and a great
part of Belgian soil. The Germans,
indeed, are already carrying out a
general retreat. But it is a retreat un-
der pressure and, al no skillfuI1y con-
Quoted. is bound to cost them heavily
in men and material.
Wanted to Shorten Line.
General Ludendorff patiently has
been desirous of Withdrawing to
shorter line where he could reorgan-
ize his forces but the steady, unrc-
lenting pressure which Marshal Foch
made it impossible for him to detach
himself for such an operation. HI
cannot break contact with his adver-
sary, as he would like to do, and con-
sequently is obliged to fall back slow
ly, fighting hard and losing heavily in
his backward course.
Wednesday nights developments
and those of today along the wide bat
tie front only served to accentuate the
extent of the German retreat and the
acceleration of its pace. The official
reports reveal the British, and the
Americans cooperating with them,
still widening the great wedge in the
German line southeast of Cambria,
process in which the French to the
south are aiding notably.
General Petain'S troops have pushed
to the River Disc to a point almost as
far north as Guise, where they join
with the British and Americans, who
are rapidly nearing the important rail-
road junction of Wassigny, south and
east of lie Cateau.
This sensational drive in the center
is matched in efficacy by the terrific
pressure of the French armies south
of Laon and along the line north of
the Aisne and in the Champagne. This
movement in conjunction with the
drive to the north, is, according to
today's advices. making it inevitable
that the Germans retire from Laon
and the great St Gobain mass1f. The
withdrawal, indeed, appears to be un-
der = way here as elsewhere. The
Americans are with the French in ap-
plying pressure in the Champagne ana
the American First army, in its drive
in the Argonne area, has Joined hands
with General Petains troops at Grand
Pre-. Further east, the strong line on
which the Germans stood to resist the
American drive west of the Meuse is
trembling under the blows of General
Pershing's troops and further ad-
yances by the American forces are
looked for here.
On the far norther-- end of the bat
tie line, the Anglo-Belgian forces are
apparently being held in leash to
thrust again for a closing of the
pocket in which Douai now is en-
closed together with the great manu-
featuring city of Lille, as soon as the
northea sterly thrust of the British
First. Third and Fourth armies have
progressed to the desired point. The
Germans in the Lens area, however,
are rot waiting for this trap to be
sprung, and are continuing their with
drawa1 from that part of the pocket
which is the one most Immediately
threatened.
Battle front reports indicate an ex-
pectancy there that a move by the
Germans to evacuate Douai is imni
nent.
Artillery in Action.
With the American Forces North
west of Verdun. Oct. 11.-Heavy ar
tiIlery firing in the region west of the
Meuse river began early today. The
Americans started the action before
daylight ana the bombardment was
responded to by the Germans. Fires
are reported in the region of many
town behind the lines. and it j. be-
lieved these were started by the
American shells.
Serbs Take 5000.
after capturing Ieskovatz again ad-
vanced and on October s had reached
a line ten miles to the north of that
town, says an official statement issued
by the Serbian general staff. More
than 5000 prisoners were taken and
five more guns were captured. Lipo-
vita and Kossantcheich have been
reached.
Pcrshing's COmmunique.
Washington, Oct. 11.-General
Pershing's communique says:
"Op the right bank of the Meuse,
Continued on Page Two.b