Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 201, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 September 1918 — TUESDAY WAR SUMMARY. [ARTICLE]

TUESDAY WAR SUMMARY.

Field Marshal Haig’s armies have torn a seven-mile hole in the Wotan line, and today are driving a deep wedge in the ranks of the German armies between the twin bases of Douai and Cambrai. Advance guards already have penetrated eight miles to the canal running north from Cambrai, press dispatches say. Indeed it appears that the British are perilously near (for the Germans) to a break through the enemy lines. If the infantry can follow up the tank and cavalry advance north of Cambrai that city will be flanked, as these units nOW are reported east of a north and south line running through the place. Capture of Cambrai would almost inevitably , involve a German withdrawal at least as far south as St. Quentin and possibly the abandonment of the whole Hindenburg line, which is seriously menaced in the south by the Franco-American advance north of Soissons, which already is well on its way to flanking the Chemin des Dames.

Usually observative critics declare that the Germans yesterday suffered their worst single day reverse of the war in the smashing of the Wotan line, which they had long considered impregnable. It is yet too early to forecast in their entirety the consequences, which ’may be exceedingly far-reaching. In addition to this great victory the cables today bring news of a further British-American advance in Flanders, which may likewise have far-reaching results. Both British and Americans are pushing eastward and rapidly blotting out the salient the Germans drove into the allied line following their Picardy advance last March. In addition, to advancing astride the Lys and north, where the Germans are rapidly retiring, burning towns and villages as they go, the British have penetrated Lens, it is officially announced. The sector held by the Belgians from Ypres to the sea should be watched cbsely for an indication of the German intentions in that direction. If a withdrawal is started there it may well be assumed that the apparently inspired hints of a withdrawal to the Meuse line which have been coming out of Germany of late have basis in fact.