The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-10-12
zAnnies Of Boche Fast
Quitting North France
{ BY The Associated Press)

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
increasingly rapid pace under the
allied lash.
Already, since the beginning OF
the July offensive which initiated
the loosening proses, the allies
have pushed the enemy back max
imum OF IS miles from the Ancre
near Albert to the tip of the pres
ent Anglo-American wedge at lie
Cateau. A scant 25 miles more will
bring them on this line to the Bel
J gian frontier south of Maubeuge.
= But long before thar point is reached
the pressure on all sides, if CON
tinued at the present rate, will have
resulted in the clearing OF the en-
emy from virtually all French ter
ritory and great part of Belgian
soil.
Enemy In General Retreat.
The Germans, indeed, already are
carrying out a general retreat, but
1t Is a retreat under pressure, and,
although being skillfully conducted,
is bound to cost them heavily in
material and men,
General Ludendorff patiently has
been desirous OF withdrawing to
a shorter line where he could re-
organize his forces. but the steady
unrelenting pressure Which Mar
shall Foch has applied all along the
front has made it impossible for him
to detach himself for such an oper-
alton. He cannot break contact
with his adversary, as he would like
to do, and consequently is obliged to
fall back fighting hard and losing
heavily in his backward course.
Last nights developments and
those OF today along the wide battle
front only served to accentuate the
extent OF the German retreat and
the acceleration OF its pace.
British and Americans.
The official reports reveal the
British and the Americans cooper
ating, with them still widening the
great wedge in the German line
southeast OF Cambria, a process in
which the French to the south are
\ aiding notably. General Petain's
ttroops have pushed to the River
Disc to point almost as far north
as GuiSc. where they Join up with
the British and Americans, who are
rapidly nearing the important rail
way junction Of Wassigny, south
and east OF lie Cateau.
This sensational drive in the cen
ter is matched in efficacy, how
ever. 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, ar-
cording to today's adviCes, making
it inevitable that the Germans retire
from Laon and the great St. Gobain
massii. The withdrawal indeed, ap .
pears to be under way here as else
where.
American First Army.
The Americans are with the
French in applying the pressure ir
the Champagne and the American
First army in its drive in the Ar
come area has joined hands with
General Petain's troops at Grand
Pre-. Further east, the strong line
ON which the Germans stood to re-
,i,t the American drive west OF the
MeuSe is trembling under the blows
of General Pershing'S troops, and
further advances by the American
forces are looked for here.
On the far northern end of the
battle 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 man
ufacturing city OF Lille, as soon as
the northeasterly thrust OF the Brit
ish First, Third, and Fourth armies
has progressed to the desired point.
The Germans i'll the Lens area,
however. are not waiting for this |
TO be sprung, and are continuing
their withdrawal from that part OF
the pocket which is the one most
Immediately threatened. Battle front |
reports indicate an expectancy there
that 4 move by the Germans to |
evacuate Douai is imminent.