North Carolina Newspapers

A V 0 a ca:,qli::a iio::.h ewspapeh, constructive, clean, reliable "when you see it in the observe.! .its co." FOUNDED 1869 CHARLOTTE, N. C,r THURSDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 3, 1918.. n iiyii Jl Grand Mach to Berlin Has Actually Begun, Says Sin io;i i! If P. """ r r--i r- - - -"I r r ' Already BilliON H-BEieii HAS BEEN BROKEN Observers Agree That Hinden- burg Line Is Crumbling.' PENETRATED ,0NCE "MORE Ringed by Wall of Victorious 5 Enemies, Situation of: J: mans Js Ver Grave;- Washington, 0$. i. The German trip on northern Franca and Belgium has been definitely broken. Even the fa ost ksautious military 'observers In Washington 'agreed tonight that the Hlndenbifrg ; line was, disintegrating, and army officers centered their whole attention on he .efforts of the Ger man leaders to extricate their armies Without a crushing disaster. Outflanked In Belgium and in the . Champagne the great German sone " a 4HBlrA eamfiVa bnvvrn n ftViaa YJfn denburg line already was becoming ' unusable when Field Marshal Halg's - men - smashed through it today Just north 'of 8t-Quentin. The immediate - investment of .the city "by French troops and the swift widening of the breach northward, coupled with the continued rapid progress of French, Belgian and . British forces, in Bel glum it is thought here, rafey possib'y upset the whole German scheme, of re tirement already begun on the Rheims front . ' British penetration of the line, it was said, may furnish Marshal Foch With a means to embarrass the Ger man retreat, always with the possl- - blllty of precipitating a veritable rout. Situation Grave . .Ringed by a wall of 'vlctorlus en- amies over the whom front from the North sea to Verdun, .the situation of the Germans Is undoubtedly grave. The drive In Belgium Is menacing vital communications oh one side while American and French troops in the Champagne are surging for ward toward equally vital supply tines on the other. The battle line is as suming the shape of a vast trap thrusting Its Jaws out to engulf the German armies. - i The German leaders have , seen their danger. Official reports to the sure department today Indicated the evacuation of the submariner bases on the Belgian coast was imminent. There also is conclusive evidence that the evacuation of the lines before . Rheims Is well under way. The ques tion uppermost in the minds of army 1 officials here is as to whether the German high command has acted in time. Announcement from Paris that 2, . 000 prisoners were taken by the French yesterday in operations be tween the Vesle and the Aisne rivers is significant of the difficulty of get ting troops back safely .out of an abandoned fighting line. There has been no hint of a French attack on a . large scale en this front and the Ber v1n statements have characterized the jturnovement as a withdrawal, . Only a narrow front was Involved yet 2,000 men, left as rear guards, were cap tured. , Stupendous Task. To withdraw the , whole 250-mile ' front where the allied and American forces are- charging forward day after day will pe a stupendous task, we constantly increasing . superiority of numbers and gun-power resting with Marshal Foch, observers here believe the retreat will' be : difficult beyond words. There is no possibility, it was said, of forecasting wnat may happen There are several places on the front where the situation appears par ticularly critical,, .Officers said that evacuation of the Belgian cost prob ably will be forced on the enemy in . an effort to avert an even more seri- ous reverse in the Lille sector. The Brtish wins: of the drive in Belsrlum ' Is hammering at the vital supply lines of the Lille salient on one side while . the steady advance of other British forces northeastward from the nosl. tion south of Doual is aimed at the only other route of escape from the r. nlAtv fnrmlnff nnrlrftt. U AIpaaAv ilia 1irM-nAinv fnraaa hAlilInc th Aantlxm I of the pocket ' face the necessity of passing along the British front, on the Continued on page 2.) Letters and Six Indies High .; - Reached The Observer office Sundayas a result of names of subsaibers in arrears having been dropped from mailing list. The War Industries Board, ruling which has been published on page two for more than six weeks and appeirs today, deprives news papers of the privilege of using their judgment as to responsibility of subscribers. If a subscriber is not paid, in advance the paper must be stopped. ' , . : - x ' ' 1 The letters referred to above will be handled by a large force and every effort will be made to start the papei without .delay. Some 'will miss, two or three lssuest othe"rs perhaps a 'week, ' - We publish' this 'as air explanation id those who "fail to receive their paper and as a WARNING to subscribers whose dates are In arrears or are ahnut tn 'vnire If vrin tisv tin Ann iTSend in vbur RENEWAL . , uo if ssowriease Do it Today GERMANS ARE AGAIN RETREAT ON VIDE AND IMPORTANT SECTOR Wide Frpnt North and South of LeBasse Canal Is Scene of New - Retrograde Movement Allied" Forces 5 Continue Brilliant Achievements In Restoring 131 elgian-Flanders--J(eeping Up Their Successful Advances on Six Other Battle Fronts. '-. iiAfm rw . t.rhA Germans are n retreat over a wide front, north and south of LaBassoe canal, with the Rxirir. inai fnlinwlnp thm. accord - ing to Field Marshal, Halg's report mm neaaquaners lonignu ft By;th? Again-the i Germans are in retreat on an important sector of the western Hattla trnnt In Vrnnpn. The scene of the new retrograde movement is a wide front norm - ana soum 01 ua Basse canal. , . , tii. onnttnimtlnn hv the entente al lied forces of their brilliant achieve ments in restoring Belgium. Flanders and the expulsion of the enemy from further territory in France from the region of Cambrai to Verdun evident ly -has nrougni me uerron i im realisation that the great bend in the tmm Monln tn the east of Arras mi. ..v... ------ - - is. likely to prove another such trap as was . tne su mime. auem. uiu they are fast enough of foot to move -..tttrarit . riving ui Lille. Lens and Douai, and straighten their line from D1ASCUS TAKE! By THE More Than 7,000 Prisoners Cap vtured With City. Following Its Surrender, All Allied Troops Are Withdrawn for Time Being. . London, Oct 2, (8 p. m.) More than 7,000 Turks were taken prisoner whenGeneral Aiienoy s iorce ocvu pled nDamascui,lTiewaT nounced tonight. The statement says: 'Palestine Troop of an Austral ian mounted divlsino entered Damas- w..j. m Octohor 1. CUB WI1UJ. - :. , ' the city was occupied by the Lritisn forces and by. a portion of the Arab army of King Hussein. Over. 7.C00 prisoners were taxen. . it. ..,.n.r with the x- ceptlon of necessary guards, all the allied troops were wunumwn uiu - authorities remain responsible for its . . A f aaminiHiraifjii. BRITISH FORCED FROM VILLAGE OF SEQUEHART London, Oct. 2. The Germans have lost further ground to the British in the outskirts of Cambrai and northwest of that city, but northeast of St Quentin the British under a violent J counter-attack have been forced from the village of Sequehart. according to Field Marshal Halgs communication issued tonight. ' The text of the communication fol lows: i ,"';"'v"' '.' "V" ' , . "This morning the enemy attacked strongly northeast of St. Quentin with fresh troops from his reserves and succeeded in pressing back our troops from the village of Seouehart, When his progress stopped. - "Locat flgh ting ' has taken place to day north of Grevecourt (south of Cambria)" aad 'west of Cambrai, but without material change in the situa tion. As a result of .their operations yesterday, and last night in the neigh borhood of Cambrai. Canadian troops ... h.M fho antiiirh nf Neuville St. LRemy.and the high ground west of Bamlllies. . . . ' "Early this " morning the enemy commenced Jo withdraw on a wide front south' and " north ot LaBassee canal. Our troops are following up the . withdrawal closely and have taken prisoners."- - " - . Postal Cards , v the vicinity of Cambrai to Belgium. On all the other six battle, fronts from Belgium to Verdun the entente forces are keeping up their' success ful advances, although' the Germans everywhere, except northwest of Rheims have materially stiffened their front and are offering string resist ance 'to further inroads Into their territory; Wedge Driven Deeper. In Belgian Flanders the wedge of the Belgian, British and French troops has penetrated still farther eastward and southeastward from Dixmude. and only a few miles more will be required by the allied troops to give them po sitions by which Ostend, one of Ger many's sea bases, will be made un tenable 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 (Continued on page 2.) Maximum and Minimum Retail ' Prices to Be Fixed. War Industries Board and the Shoe industry Enter Into Agreement Washinaton. Oct. 2. The American people will soon be able to purchase shoes at fixed minimum and maxi mum retail prices, lower than those now-pTevaillng-and obtain a the same time shoes of better quality. This announcement was made today by the war-industries board based on an agreement entered into with the shoe industry. Under the agreement shoes will be standardised as to quality and styles at prices ranging from $3 to $2 for men and women groups as follows: Class A,' from $9 to $12 j Class B, $6 to $8.60, and Class C, $3 to 15.50; pro portionate prices for youths' and chil dren's shoes have been fixed in each of the three classes. The board will check up on the quality of the shoes sold at each price by means of a class number stamped On it. Policing, official 'explained. will be done by the various state councils of . defense, and where the public is in doubt as to what quality It is getting according to the price schedule, complaint may be made and the cost of manufacture traced. While it is possible to purchase a shoe for $3 now, under the new sched ule, the shoe at the price will be of higher grade. Officials, also said, that it will be possible to -tray better quality shoes throughout the three classes at less money than at present Shoes now retailing for as high as $20, they said, will retail for the maximum price of $12 and be of at least equal quality. Manufacturers, Jobbers and retail ers subscribed to the agreement and retailers will be required to sign a pledge containing the new price scale and display it in their shops. Failure to do so wjll mean the cut ting off of supplies. The manufactur ers' pledge provides for standard ot quality at the quoted prices. , LIBERTY MOTORS REACH QUANTITY PRODUCTION Washington, .Oct. 2. Uberty'mo wmt iiuw nave rcacnea quantity pro duction and American-built airplanes are being shipped In tralnload lot daily from thn tantnrUm ta onralm overseas. W. C. Potter, acting direc tor vi mo uurenn oi aircraft produc tion, made this announcement today nnon tils ntsrnAi U'aihlnMnn r, an Inspection xt factories building piaucn ana mqiors. - GERMANS REPORTED TO BE, EVACUATING LILLE Paris, Oct. 8, (ilavas). The' Matin announces that thn limuiu nw. noting Lille and that the commander there has reonlsltlniMvl all himi l transportation even wheelbarrows and nasaets to laae away tne booty. The newspaper adds that the evacuation of the towfM-tonnnta tn Hoto-lnn Inmi near the German border Is being pur- unit ttaatllw '" 'V :- HW IIIIIIUi ........ ADVISES ALL VICTIMS V TO RESORT JO QUININE Richmond. Vav Oct 2.--Wlth 840 eases of Spanish influeqza tn the city, Health Oflcer Roy Flannigan tonight gave advice to the people on what to do when they feel the symptoms com ing on. He advised all victims to resort to quinine, and take a purga tlve.- ...'' . k. ' No further -acuon has been taken relative to closing theaters because of Sill! American. People . Cautioned by Washington Officials. CAMPAIGN IS GOING GOOD Sale of Liberty Bonds Made More Urgent to Enable Armies to ; Keep Hun on the Run. Washington, Oct. 2. President Wil son and other officials feel that the American people must exercise cau tion lest .the good news from the battlefronts cause a relaxation of ef fort on behalf ot the fourth Liberty loan.- .Thus far no such tendency has been noticeable and the campaign has been going with an enthusiasm com parable to that with which the battle reports have been received. It is pointed out that now that vic tory is definitely being brought to the side -of the allied armies funds and more funds are needed to enable the fighting men to press home their hard won advantage and hurl the German hordes beyond th.e Rhine. . Secretary McAdoo is understood to have deter mined to have speakers emphasize this point continuously until the huge six billion dollar total is raised, wt Official repoits today from aU fed eral reserva dsltrlcts except Kansas City, which has not started taking subscriptions, showed . $4ll,142,05Q pledger actually received and accom panied by payment of the 10 per cent initial Installment. .This covers re ceipts - up to last night, but does not Include millions of dollars In sub scriptions on which the initial pay ment has not been made, or has been made - but not yet reported officially by . banks. The total tomorrow night is expected to be - seven 1 hundred million dollars greater. In order to raise six billions, it would be necessary to get a daily average of $315,000,000 and at this required rate approxi mately a billion dollars should have been subscribed by this time. Among the reported sales by dis tricts were: Richmond, $14,158,750. Atlanta,-$1.74,800. - Dallas. $4,812,450. Iowa still stood alone- tonight as the only state to reporfofflcially that it was over , its quota. The Richmond district reported that Crozet. Htot Springs and Mtlford, Va and AsheVlIle and Buncombe county. North CaVlina, had over-subscribed their quotas. In connection with the efforts to prevent a slackening of campaign morale, it was cited today bv treas ury officials that practically all of the six billion dollars to be, raised will have been spent by the time It is received at the treasury. The gov eminent already Is paying out money at the daily rate of $50,000,000 which is substantially the money to be raised in the fourth loan. In September it was shown ' by a treasury, report today the government paid out $1,557,264,000 or $248,000,- 000 less than the $1,805,000,000. rec ord in August. The total cost of 18, months of war to October 1, was shown to- be $18, 898,946,000 or three times as much as will be. raised by the fourth loan. 35 DEATHS ATCAMP. -V LEE WITHIN 24 HOURS Petersburg, Va., Oct. 2. At noon today the, total, number of Spanish Influenza cases at Camp Lee reached 8,499. - Deaths from pneumonia fol lowing the disease during the 24 hours ending at ndon were 85. Total number of deaths since the epidemic appeared, 167. : , , ; 1 " i 1 .' . (GAME WARDENS NAMED, " Columbia, Oct.' 2. Wade Hampton Gibbes. chief game wardpn, has ap pointed the following game wardens for South Carolina: v B, , L. , Grlmbal, Johns Island rnArchie S. Perry,. Sum mervtlle: J. N. Helms, Richland coun ty; Ed ward M. Bailey, Edsito island. J0-J0 SAYS Fair today andTFiiday. . -- Our naval ships by. bonds are nam AMERICANS SURROUNDED . BY GERMANS RESCUED British Headquarters In France,' Oct 2, (Router's.) The contingent of Americans, who had been hold ing oat since Sunday in a far ad vanced position between Cambrai and St Quentin against greatly su perior enemy numbers, have been rescued, -v ; ' ., In our attack around Vendhuile yesterday we. were able to fight through and relieve this party, numbering . some hundreds, who having taken up their position Sun day night,' were mirrounded by the Germans early Monday. ' , Notwithstanding that they were opposed by such superior numbers and only possessed the ammunition and rations which they themselves were carry tag, the Americans made a magnificent resistance . and the ground 'was strewn with German dead.- -., '-! Crowell Promises to Send "Good, Committee" Here. - Charlotte Delegation ' Presents Strong Petition to Acting Secretary of War. BY WADE H. HARRIS. Washington. Oct 2. Senators Sim mons and Overman, Congressman Webb and a Charlotte committee had an interview , this morning with Acting Secretary of War- Crowell, when a petition asking the war de partment to utilize Camp Greene was presented.- Senator Oyernati' read the petition, and Secretary Crowell was plainly Impressed. " Almost instantly after the reading was concluded. Sec retary Crowell said he would appoint a committee to Inspect Camp Greene. He said this committee would be one perfectly fair, and the members would be instructed to thoroughly in spect the camp. "I shall permit no injustice," said Secretary , Crowell. "to either Camp Greene or to Charlotte. It will be a good committee," the sec retary repeated, "and If It proves oth erwise you can jump me." Secretary Crowell said he would name the commute tomorrow, but ad ded he could not say when it would visit Camp Greene. In view of the fact that great im provements have been made at Camp Greene since the camp last was of ficially Inspected by a committee of army officers, the war department was requested by the committee, repre senting the interests of Charlotte, to order another Inspection of the camp to determine the degree of utilization justified by the advantages now of fered. ' Since Generals Gorgax, Chamber lain and Black Inspected Camp Greene last winter, it was pointed out In the petition, the government has con1 structed permanent roads within the reservation, installed a sewer system serving a great part of the camp, and made other sanitary improvements. Also, the difficulties of transportation between Charlotte and Camp Greene have been removed by the construc tion of paved military highways. In the petition, it was stated the people of Charlotte felt for these reasons, that Camp Greene should be restored to its 'former place of Im portance. " " ":-- ;- ,.. .,,., The committee quietly left Charlotte Sunday night for Washington to pre sent the petition, with the hope that the inspection would result in the war department utilizing the camp to the extent the Charlotte interests believe It advantages ' Justify, In view of recent great improvements. The petition was . signed by the presidents of the chamber of com merce. Charlotte Merchants' associa tion, Rotary club. Ministers' associa tion, Ad club, T. M. C A., K. of C, and .the Medical association, the pres idents- or ail the banks of the city ana ooumy, lownsmp ana county of flclals. I Over 200 signatures of business es tablishments of Charlotte appeared on the petition. . . The committee held' a lengthy con ference Monday .: with . Senators Sim mons and : Overman, Congressman Webb and others. Later, the mem bers of the NoVth ' Carolina delega tion, asked Acting Secretary of War Crowell for an opportunity to pre sent the petition. The hearing was granted: for yesterday morning. .The petition, as read to Secretary Crowell, reviewed the history of Camp Greene's ' difficulties and set forth accomplishments, of recent months as arguments of the advisability of the war department in Its own interest, more thoroughly acquainting' Itself with the advantages ' and facilities now offered for army training pur pose?. Points given emphasis In cluded the. following: - That the camp had been greatly improved by the building by the gov ernment ' of permanent roads within the reservation and by the installation of a sewer system , serving a large part of the camp, and ether sanitary improvements. ; : That difficulties . of , transportation between Charlotte and Camp Greene were completely removed by the construction " of two ' permanently paved highways by the city, of Char lotte, Charlotte township and Aleck: lemhurg county. That the making of these improve ments removed the conditions object ed to by the war ' department, and which resulted in Inspecting officers recommending a limited nee of the na.mn. . . , 1 l The relations between the people" of SBiliil - . ....I . , ,, .. .4-J-v.., , ,,- .... - f - , , . ' k 1 .' ' " h ''ii -la - SPREAD OF KiFLUEflZA AT 1.IY GAMPS SHIS A SLIGHT ABAEOH Slightly More Than 13,000 New v Cases Reported, However, Making'More Than 100,000. Pneumonia Decreases. Washington, Ootf a.- While' reports today to the office of the surgeon gen eral of the army showed decreases in the number of new cases ot Spanish influenza at army ; camps, informa tion coming to the public health ser vice was that the disease was rapidly spreading, among .the civilian popula tion over the country. The malady has appeared now in 43 states and the District of Columbia and besides New England it is epi demic in tidewater Virginia, South Carolina and other places. It was re ported particularly prevalent along the Atlantic seaboard and the gulf coast Vigorous steps to' combat the disease have been taken by the public health service and doctors and nurses have been ordered -to several places where the epidemio is most severe. It was announced' that the Red Cross war work council has appropri ated $575,000 for expenses Incident to its work irt combatting the influen sa. The council soon will appeal for additional nursing; personnel and nurses desiring to. serve have been asked, to report to the nearest Red Cross chapter. - u?iv?- , Washington, Oct. ' 2. for the first time since It became epidemic, spread of Spanish influenza at army camps showed a slight abatement during the 24 hours ending at noon today. New cases reporteq totauea snsntiy more than 13,000, a decrease of 1,000 from tne number reported the day-before. Pneumonia also showed a ' decrease with only 876 new cases and 271 deaths. Influenza cases at ill camps now number more than lOOtfOO with 7,- 646 cases of pneumonia, reported since the epidemio began and 2,148 aeatns. . ' Sixteen camps today reported new cases ot Influenza with the largest number at Camp Meade,- Maryland, where 1,590 were reported, camp Custer, Michigan, reported 1,404 new cases and Camps Pike, Arkansas, and Taylor, Kentucky, more than 1,000 each. Camps Lee, Virginia, and Grant Illinois, had more than GOO cases. There were 50 deaths at Camp Dlx and 29 at Camp Devens, Massachu setts. - ',' Influenza has spread to shipyards In New England and North Atlantic states to such an extent that Direc tor General Schwab of the emergency fleet corporation, today described the situation as "serious." In the yards at Fore River, Mass., he. said there wee about 3,000 cases or 10 per cent ef the workers. At the Hog Island yards -approximately S per cent of the 30,000 men have been unaoie to re port for work this week on account of the disease. ; Like conditions exist in other yards in the two districts, Mr. Schwab said, but the disease has not spread to any great extent to ship yards in the South Atlantic, gulf, Great Lakes and Pacific coast dis tricts. . . . 0 . ... The shiDbuiidinff program "win Da Interfered with materially In any yard where the number of cases reach I per cent of the men employed, the director general said." Through the medical service of the corporation verv eflort is being made to stop the spread of the malady. - . .-. ' AS precautionary measures 10 pre vent an epidemic of influenza in war crowded Washington. ' the public schools were ordered closed today and Liberty loan. parades as well as most public gatherings were prohibited by the dlstricr : commissioners. - ? AGRICULTURAL ADVISERS FOR SOUTH CAROLINA NAMED Washington.- Oct. 2. Agricultural advisers for the South -Carolina draft board were announced today, by the department of agriculture: J. R. Con ner, of Eutawvllle, was appointed ad viser for the eastern district board with headauarters at Columbia. ' and Lowndes Browning, of Union,- adviser for the western district board with headauarters at Greenwood. - The advisers are not to be members. of the boards but are to furnish the boards information on farm labor re aulrements for their own districts' and the entire country and may also con cern themselves with individual cases before the district boards, 1: - TURKEY MAKES INDIRECT APPROACHES TO ALLIES London, Oct - S. Turkey . has made further Indirect approaches to the allies through . financJaL channels which are bring consid ered by . the British 1 war cabinet, The Standard . says It learns on good authority. Important devel opments, the newspaper au "a, are expected. V - -The allied governments Jiave il dded formally to reco- o t: e belligerent status , ot . t..a Arab forces, nchting as auxi:r;-s with the allies axatnst t:,o t :.wn enemy In Palestine and Ejria. . Final Advance Is Now Going Fcr-': ward, Says Sinionds. V ROAD IS LONG BUT RATE ; ' ; : OF ADVANCE INCREASING It Is Certain Now Germans Must L Go Back to Frontier. I DARK NIGHT NEARLY OVER Enemy May Be Able to Rally at Frontier;, Bad Weather May ' - Stop Operations of 1918. ' A J Hfx FRANK n. SLMOND&. (Copyrights 1111, by The New Tor Jt ' Tribune.) - ;' - New Tork, Oct. 2. The advance ef the Belgian and the second British army continues to be the most inter estlnr single circumstance in the bat tle of France. . It la interesting both la . . A A U . T . .AB.A J . ... light it casta upon the strategy of ex actly four -years ago. Plumer and King Albert are now ? 'doing what . VUUH .UU 4- WU.HUTa fcV WW AU UVIV when Kluck- had ' made 'good his ground at the Atone and the front had stabilised itself f rpm the Olse to the Swiss frontier, Sir John' French asked and obtained permission to take- the British arm to the north. " The army was moved up to a front frdra Stomer to Bethune and began a burning move ment around Lille designed to drive the Germans out of this great city, In "the course of this operation; Sir Douglas Haig reached Tpres and there Joined up with Sir Henry Rawllnson'e seventn corps. : At tne close ot tne third i week v. of October.'- French at- (VllIfl.VU- W yUBH VHb VUVi Vi.ftHl down the Menin road., and seise the crossings of the Lya river. While be was engaged In this operation he en countered the first wave of the Ger mans comlnr south r from 'Antwerp; which had fa Hon. - Hera was mm ha- In ihe next few day the allied , of fensive became an almost despairing defensive and the British: expedition ary army stood and, died holding the the French to the weat ward held the Yserx canal : line. From October 11 mttmA V... 1 11 AM Kl. " Now that the tide has turned, and the Brtish and Belgians are r doing what French-attempted in 1614 and Halgg in 1917, they are driving for Wts.ru. VVI1IIIU; (HV UOi iiwu ;veiMVne via the Belgian coast, they are push 1ns a wedge deep into the German front In Belgium and the evacuation of Lille on the south and of Ostend on the north, has already begun. T i means that the German are rr back behind the Scheldt from Guent to Valenciennes-, that after four years of war xpres has at last oecome .a quiet sector. v .i-';-' Same Happening la France. And what is happening in Belgium la hsppenin in France.' The Ger man line, which with minor, modifica tions has endured, through four, long years, is becoming evacuated: Rheims, like Yprea and Verdun, will before many days be far behind the' front We may- not see any swik ana, arenerat retreat 'We may see a pro- longed struggle front one trench sys tem to another, behind "switch lines," and subordinate lines, a reproduction on an i enormous ; scale el tne nrsi battle of the 8omme.- On tne otner hand, it seems assured that the Ger mans between the Mouse and . the Oise "and' particularly about Laon ana In the St. Gobaln region must retire , with little delay and over a consider able distance. , , ', -. ' k So far we have had three acts In IVuh'. atnnandniia drama. 'On J lily 12. he ' broke the German offensive and seized the initiative. In Auguft he. employed .this initiative to open the great operation which threw the Germans back to the Hindenburg line. For the past two weeks we have had a colossal struggle to drive the German out of the Hindenburg line and th.i act; has been for Foch Quit as suc cessful as the two which preceded it. We are now to see the pursuit r the Germans retiring from tr ' denburg; positions, in 'in c of the German retirement dep ultimate outcome of the camr 1618, U the German retreat ; did from the Marne in July ar the old Somm front, in ur campaign' will end by the U. reach the next defense system the Scheldt and theMeuse t liberation of most t Be! have to be postponed ur,' i r ' -v if German Mora'o l But If German morale 1 If there Jre crumbH t tanra at any vital s . may see a supreme di. i ot the German army, ani decision had this SW..' -event there seems -to 1 remotest chance. It w ' that the Germans r-" frontier, but it Is r will be able to ra.. weather wr l"tr' ! ' the yeW. Bt e -of northern tne prevalence of tnedisease. ed; lend our boys Jn blue a hand. (Continued bhpage 2. ' (Cotteul