Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 241, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1918 — MONDAY WAR SUMMARY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MONDAY WAR SUMMARY.

The German battle line in France continues to bend under the attacks of the entente allies. But nowhere has it been broken. The enemy almost everywhere is in retreat toward new positions. But his retreat is orderly stnd the British, French and Americans are being compelled to fight their way forward slowly. Highly important strategic positions have been wrested from the enemy by the British and French, while on their sector of the front the Americans have further advanced their line on both sides of the Meuse, obtaining the objectives they sought. The British advance, after days of hard fighting, has brought them at last to the gates of Douai, which long has held back the British from closing in upon the great bend in the line which has Lille as its center and which has been considered by the military experts as the keystone to the German defense system throughout Belgium.

On . the south the French have blotted out both LaFere and Laon and the greater portion of the St, Gobain massif standing in the elbow where the line runs eastward toward the Swiss frontier. Here also the Germans for weeks had stood fighting desperately, realizing that a successful advance by their foes would shatter all their military plans in the south and probably compel swifter retirement. By the successes of the British and the French the entire German line from Rheims to the Belgian frontier is made decidedly more unstable, and with the new advances of the French and the Americans in the Champagne and along both sides of the Meuse northward, seemingly the enemy, for a few days at least, will have to hasten his steps eastward and northward to prevent the great converging maneuver from capturing large numbers of prisoners, especially in the pocket, from the region northwest of Rheims to LaFere. Here, however, the enemy, seeing the ultimate fall of Laon, may have used the great network of railways there and successfully withdrawn a majority of his forces toward Mesieres. Along the Aisne in Champagne the French have forced their way across the Aisne at various places and are almost upon the important railway town of Rethel, whence it is only a step to Mesieres, while north of Vouziers they are continuing to battle their way forward toward Sedan. In the bend of the Aisne more hat six localities have been liberated by the French and several thousand civilians freed from bondage. Since the offensive began 21,567 Germans have been made prisoners, and GOO of their guns captured.

Miss Leona Snedeker is visiting relatives at Gaston. Miss Ellen Drake visited her sister, Mrs. Rollin Stewart, and family last week. Ross K. Zard, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Zard, ,of Mitchell, S. D., is here for an extended visit with Will Zard and other relatives. Mrs. Chas. Jordan and children returned home Saturday after a visit of several days with relatives at Rockville. Mrs. Paul A. Overton and children, of Mendota, 111., are visiting her parents, Mr, and' Mrs. Chas. Reed, and family. Cora Noland, daughter of S. W. Noland, has recovered sufficiently from her recent attack of pneumonia that the nurse was dismissed Friday evening. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Morrison are both improving slowly. Mrs. Davis, who was assisting in caring for Mr. and • Mrs. Morrison, has taken down with the “flu.” Will Woodworth and family have had their turn of influenza and are now out of the danger period. Charles J. and William, of the Charles Erb family, have each had a round of the epidemic. The engine on the C. & W. V. branch of Monon, was derailed while en route to McCoysburg to get two cars of stock. No one was injured in the accident, which was probably caused by a defective switch. Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Willits went to Rensselaer Sunday to see their son, Russell, and family, three of the family being quite sick with influenza. Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Cook were in Lafayette Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Stephens returned home a few days ago from a week’s visit with the former’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gus Stephens, at Wingatg. Mr. Stephens’ health remains about the same as when he moved from here.

HANGING GROVE.