Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 232, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 October 1918 — THURSDAY WAR SUMMARY. [ARTICLE]

THURSDAY WAR SUMMARY.

The Germans are in retreat on an important sector of the western battle front in France. The scene of the new retrograde movement is a wide front north and south of LaBassee canal. The continuation by the entente allied forces of their brilliant (achievements lin restoring Belgian, Flanders and the expulsion of the enemy from the region of Cambrai to Verdun evidently has brought the German sto the realization that the great bend in the line from Menin to the east of Arras is likely to prove another such trap as was the St. Mihiel salient unless they are fast enough of foot to move eastward, giving up Lille, Lens and Douai, and straighten their line from the vicinity of Cambrai to Belgium. On all of the other six battle fronts from Belgium to Verdun the entente forces are keeping up their successful advances, although the Germans everywhere except northwest of Rheims have materially stiffened their front and are offering strong resistance to further inroads into their territory. In Belgian Flanders, the wedge of the Belgian, British and French troops have penetrated still farther eastward and southeastward from Dixmude and only a few miles more will be required by the allied troops to give them positions, by which Ostend, one of Germany’s sea bases, will be made untenable, and indeed, the entire North sea. coast now in German hands put in jeopardy. British warships are now violently bombarding the coast, and the Germans are reported to be moving their heavy guns eastward, fearful of their capture. Many additional towns have been captured by the allies, in this region and numerous prisoners have been taken. The important railroad junction point of Roulers is all but in the hands of the allies, while southward from Roulers the British have cut the Roulers-Menin railway at two places and are in the process of investing Menin. The French are now in full possession of St. Quentin and 'have passed on eastward. The entire Hindenburg system between St. Quentin and LeCatelet has been' completely smashed by Field Marshal Haig’s forces, with whom the Americans are brigaded and further ground has been won in the outskirts of Cambrai and north of that city.' At one point north of St Quentin the British were forced to give up a village under a heavy counter attack >by fresh German troops.