Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 231, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1918 — WEDNESDAY WAR SUMMARY [ARTICLE]

WEDNESDAY WAR SUMMARY

Beaten on every hand, the Germans have begun their retreat from Belgium and France, according to indications in official and unofficial dispatches today. . . Cambrai, penetrated by the British, is aflame; St. Quentin is being evacuated, the British and French already laving fought their way into the city as far as the canal; the British and Belgians in the north are sweeping ahead, while to the south and east, the French are pressing on while the Americans maintain a steafly pressure along the Meuse. Capture of Cambrai and St. Quentin, as has often been pointed out, means the collapse of the Hindenburg line and would force retirement practically to the French border. The menacd of the Belgian advance in Glanders compels quick action by the Germans there. from Holland today state that it is announced by the Germans that they will withdraw from Belgium. 1 With the situation as it thqs stands, immediately there comes the question: “Have the, Germans waited too long?” The Belgian and British advance already has progressed so far that withdrawal from the coast will be a dangerous proceeding for the Germans. The opening left to them is none too wide and important roads and railroads already have been severed. A retreat under pressure is a vastly different thing from a voluntary withdrawal. In a measure, the same question applies to the indicated withdrawal from France. Marshal Foeh’s troops have shown no signs of tiring. They are everywhere maintaining strong pressure on the enemy. They will continue to maintain this pressure and the Germans well know that in a fighting retreat a break through, means disaster to them. If the Germans are able to get their armies back to the Meuse intact, they are likely to make a new pe’ace offer, backed by a reformed government. The offer may come as soon as the movement is well started. Meanwhile, the situation brought about by the collapse of Bulgaria continues to develop. Reports and rumors that Turkey is on the verge of a similar collapse continue, while there are increased reports from Austria that indicate a growing desire for peace there.