Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 249, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1918 — WEDNESDAY WAR SUMMARY. [ARTICLE]

WEDNESDAY WAR SUMMARY.

A new phase of the Gorman withdrawal in Belgium and northern Belgium is about to begin. After holding back the eastward sweep of the allies on approximately the line of the Scheldt, the enemy’s hold there is being broken, and a retirement to the Antwerp-Brussels line is about due. At latest reports the French and Belgians were closing rapidly on Ghent, while the British are reported officially to have entered the suburbs of Valenciennes and to have reached the Scheldt at several places. The forcing of a passage across the river apparently is at hand. To the south, between the Serre and the Oise, the Germans continue to resist desperately in their retreat, evidently to protect the withdrawal of the armies in the north. An allied break through here might easily lead to great disaster. With equal obstinacy the German army between the Meuse and the Argon ne—what is left of tile guards has been rushed thither—is trying to impede the advance of iPersbing’s troops on that pivotal front, collapse of which would mean great disaster. • To the east of Vouziers, which fell to the French some days ago, the Teutons are counter attacking in a frantic eleventh hour effort to bar the road to the Ardennes. The German forces there have been greatly reinforced in the last forty-eight hours. Down along the Lorraine front big battle signs are flaring op. American guns are sending fiery greetings over into Mftz, that bulwark squatting squarely in the southewesrtem gate to the empire. Further south, on the Alsace front, Yankees and poflus are raiding the enemy lines.