FALL OF LILLE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 21, 19 October 1918, Page 7

FALL OF LILLE

BIRDWOOD'S TRIUMPHAL v ■ 'ENTRY

DOOM OCCUPIED

BRITISH LAND IN OSTEND

THE CAPITULATION

RUMOURS

GERMAN DEMORALISATION RAPIDLY INCREASING

Lilie hks beeii captured, General Sir William Birdwood making a triumphal entry to the inubic of the band and the rejoicings of the v enthusiastic'populace. The British have entered'Douai, Heavy attacks east of.Lc Cateau by seven German divisions havo been'' re- ■'".:; pulsed with heavy .losses to .the enemy, and a "bag" of 3000 prison- ''..'■' ers'. The Allies are now within striking distance of Bruges, and Val- ■•.■• ericienneSj-and the enemy's position, so far as his railway communi- • cationis. are concerned, is becoming'very precarious. A retirement to /: the-Brussels-Namur-Meuse line is forecasted as one of the inevitable ... results'of-the rapid development, of'the Allies' advance in Flanders. .'■'' ' Vice-Admiral Keyes has landed at Ostend. There is a mass of reports ■■•.. concerning the .capitulation rumours, which, states one correspondent, '■"' •';'■ baye : a' dramatic explanation. Another correspondent points out that - there is no real military reason for a Gorman capitulation. Other ■ .commentators declare - that the Dutch reports of the Kaiser's abdi- ■■ ■: cation and the capitulation of his forces were only slightly in advance 'S of'the facts. ..The ice is cracking'everywhere, and there have heen for : ' this : once' ironclad-disciplined nation some strange scenes indicative of moral. As one report puts it: "Anything may happen at ■ v-eny time'." ..■.:..■/, • ]■'. ' ■/•.-,' '' ' ■'• ' .-' ■ '

CAPTURE OF LILLE AND DOUAI

X NAVAL LANDING AT OSTEND - AtLIES NEARING BRUGES AND VALENCIENNES : ' ; .. ■ ."...../ By Teiegrapii—Preis A'ssooifttion—Copyright . ..•■:. ; v.-:.::.:- :.--■■;■ :■- ;■ '■"''. '■",■■.' New York, October 17. The British have captured Belgians have entered Thielt. •General Sixt von .Arnim's army is letreating on the North Sea-Lille front, •aid is on the verge ot a complete rout. French cavalry have .reached Ostend, aiiil British naval forces have landed. A. new British offensive has comimericeS in the/Bohaiii-Le Cateau front."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ;S' H IvS y^, i STIRRING SCENES;'AT"tiLLB ; ; ' ; •'•'■• ■' J:',. s v, •",'/,.. >''~ ', < ; " J, (Rec.,October 18, 7.30 p.m.) ' ■'■. .■•'■•■■'••■'■• v . •'•'■■',■ ' ■■.' , London, October 17. , :■■ There.were stirring-scenes at Lille. .The enemy quietly withdrew and •;. the.'.inhabitants, thronged-.to the .westward, side of the city to meet the. victorious British,'who marched.in to music. The streets were crowded, and the population-wasihysterical with joy.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. -, ' ! . ; . . THE CITY OF LILLE. .:,■■ i'he entry of. Allied troops into the city bf Lille.has freed from the grip of. the German one of. the great cities of France. Lille is situated in a loam fertile plain, and, is. the centre of a rich agricultural.and industrial region; it is in addition.one of .the most important junctions of the northern -railway* and;,has good communication by water (the Deule .Canal) with the .neighbouring ports and with ..Belgium. ■•. The industries comprise chiefly the spinning-of; flax arid the weaving of cloth, table linen," damask, ticking, and flax velvet; -tie. manufacture of woollen fabrics and cotton spinning and the ■ .making of cotton twist of-fine quality,; .and there are important.printing establishmente and State factories for : the manufacture of tobacco and the refining of saltpetre,.and numerous breweries, while chemical, oil, white lead, ■ and sugar works, distilleries, bleaching grounds, dye works, machinery and boiler works and cabinet-making occupy many thousands of workmen. Lille is an educational centre of some importance, and possesses a university with .faculties• of-laws/betters,,science and niedicine and pharmacy; there is also a similar Catholic institute. The old town' contains (or did contain) many l notable art treasures. Among these are the Paris' Gate, erected in 1682 in honour of the conquest of Flanders b'y Loiiis XIV; and the Ghent and Kpubaix Gates, built in the. Renaissance style, with different coloured bricks, -dating from; 1617 and 1622. The more interesting buildings include the churches of' St. Maurice, built in late Gothic style, its oldest portions dating from the-15th- century; Ste. Catherine, belonging to the 15th, 16th, and 18th centuries; St.' Andre (18th century), and St. Madeleine (end of 17th century). All these churches'-possees valuable.pictures. Tlie civil buildings are mainly ■ modern.' The'-Palais des Beaux-Arts contains a museum and picture galleries; among the richest in France, as well as: a unique collection of original designs of the great masters hequeathod to Lille by J.'-B.' Wicar. and including a. celebrated wax model of a girl's head usually, .attributed to some Italian artist of the'l6th century; the city also possesses a commercial museum, an industrial museum, a fine collection of departmental and municipal archives, the museum of the Institute of National Sciences, and,, a library" containing-many valuable manuscripts. Lille is . said to date its origin from 1030; in the fitst, half of the 13th century the town, which had devekmed rapidly,..obtained , communal privileges; it was subsequently destroyed, rebuilt, and passed in turn under the rule of the Burgundians, the Flemings, the,Aiistrians, and the Spaniards.- It, was finally restored to France by the.Treaty of., Utrecht. In bygone days Lille was a fortress of considerable strength, and successfully withstood many sieges; fin 1708, after a heroic, resistance,, it surrendered to Prince Eugene and the Duke of Marl- •. borough. -The population of Lille at the census of 1906 was 196,624.

... ALLIES EIGHT WILES FROM VALENCIENNES "■ ; ' (Rec. October 18, „„ '. , ~,• ' . , ' , i London, October 17. •,l.he .-latest reliable news.is that "to-days new'advance from Lβ Cateau has , iirogressed two mijes. The Allies are five miles from the Valeiiciennes-Hirson ■ railway and eight, miles .from Valenciennes itself. • The Belgians have crossed the Vser near -I*ilenport, and are advancing on Oatend. ■ The enemy is probably ■ . withdrawing to the,line running from Brussels and Nanvur to the right bank .-.. of the Meu.se.—Renter.: . ■-■ ■.■>.■ _ GERMAN SECOND LINE IN FLANDERS BREACHED. ■'■-■- •■•■■■" Vancouver, October 17. The- United 'Press Agency -at Paris learns that the Allies have effected a break, through tbe German second line defences in Belgium, and advanced '- . nine miles' The break through is probably in the region of Thielfc.—Aus.- .-,.."' N.Z. Cable- Assn.';. .; . ' "THINGS SHOULD MOVE QUICKLY NOW" '";■ ,-,.. ENEMY IN FLANDERS NOT KEEN' FOR BATTLE'. ~ ■''■'.. London, October 17. Mr. Philip Ribbs writes:—"The enemy, knowing that the inevitable withdrawal in Western Belgium is imminent, is not inclined to give battle 'in Flanders, on a big scale. Ik , prefers-to sacrifice his rearguards to gain time for the main retreat. The enemy is gradually finding himself in si farflung loop of attack, which by tho capture of the outskirts of Courtrni further encircles the large manufacturing territory, which includes Lille, Tourcoing, and Roubaix. Things, should move quickly now."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. .'■... .-.VAST STORES ABANDONED AT LAON.. :.:•• .■„.-. ;■.,-■ Paris, October 17. .... .. The enemy-abandoned vast stores in Laon. The roads are. lined with shells and shell cases. Miles of .light railways remain in position, together with stacks of rails and tons of barbed wire'. The bridges are already rowlrfcd; ana the roads.are workable.— Aus.-N.Z. C'ablo Assn.

BRUGES EXPECTED TO FALL IN A FEW DAYS. (Rec. October 18, 8.30 p.m.) Paris, October 17. The_ rapidity of the Allied advance in Belgium is engrossing attention. It IB pointed out that the loss of Courtrai means the severance of a knot of railways radiating to Ostend, Ghent, and 1 Lille. It is expected that Bruges will fall in a few days. The enemy cannot remain there much longer.— Renter. . BELGIAN PATROLS IN BRUGES. (Rec. October 19, 0.20 a.m.) ■•■■■.''. Ottawa, October 17. Belgian patrols have entered Bruges.—Reuter. GERMANS RETIRING TO ANTWERP. (Rec. October 19, 0.20 a.m.) '■■■■■.. Paris, October 17. The Germans are abandoning the Belgian front, and seeking refuge- behind the.outer defences of Antwerp.—Reuter.' BREAKING THE KREIMHILDE LINE ■ STORY OF THE AMERICAN ATTACK. London, October 17. Reuter's correspondent, writing from American Headquarters on Wednesday, states:—"The American advance, by which the breach in the Kreinihilde position has been widened, was made in the face of most stubborn resistance, including desperate counter-attacks, supported by heavy artillery fire. The American gains were accomplished by encircling, not 'storming, the objectives. German machine-guns filled the woods and heights, and deluges of gas-shells compelled the' Americans to fight for hours in gas-masks, while vast extents , of wire, insufficiently cut by gunfire', and enfiladed by the enemy, held up the advance. Yet the Americans filtered steadily through to the summits. ' ■ ; ' '• ' A: captured German order states:—"The'Fatherland depends upon the resistance of the Verdun sectors. Sinco the Americans have crossed the Kfeimhilde position it is essential to prevent the cutting of the German communications, which will oblige the entire western line to yield, hence the best German divisions aro densely massed against the Americans."—Reuter. THE CAPTURE OF GRAND-PRE. •■■■•: Washington, October 17. The Americans have captured Grand-Pre after an attack which was not. preceded'by artillery. They waded the river Aire,, surprised the enemy and forced his'retirement after a hand-to-hand struggle—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ARMISTICE REQUEST A MILITARY NECESSITY GERMAN RAILWAY COMMUNICATIONS DISORGANISED. , • .(Rec. October 18. 8.30 p.m.) . Paris', October-17. . 'Reuter's correspondent with the French Army, writing on October 16, says that the German appeal for an armistice was due to military necessity, as is proved by captured documents .allowing that tho Germans since July 15 have lost one-third of their guns on the Western front and one-quarter of their entire artillery. They are also gravely short of horses. Moreover, the difficulty of their strategic position is due to'the break up of their vast railway;. system by .the general advance of the Allies. Their lateral railways are cut by our gun-fire, and when the two main lines to Hirson and Mezieres come within, range the'retreat of the German forces betwen the Oisa and the Aisne will Be cut , off, if any of them are left."—Reuter. : GERMAN COMMAND ORDERS DEVASTATION TO CEASE ■ . ■'■■'.• London, October 17. The German High.Command has ordered the discontinuance of devastation.—Reuter. , •.-..'■ ■ . ... ■ ; ■'•;■'■ (Rec. October 18, 10.55.p.m.) ...'.' • ■'. • ' ■ "V ' Amsterdam, October 17. The "Rotterdamsche Cournnt" announces that the German Press tonight- publishes a communique stating that the Army Command has brought its military measures into accord-with the peace steps. Tho armies have been ordered to cease all devastation unless absolutely compelled to do so for defensive reasons.—Reuter. ..'./' ' ■ •. ' THE QUESTION OF REPARATION. . .: '•" (Rec. October 19, 0.20 a.m.) ' London, October 18. Lord Robert Cecil announced in Parliament that the Entente Governments were discussing the question of reparation for the wanton damage by the enemy in France and Belgium.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■ ENEMY'S STRENGTH REVIEWED , ;" ■ 300,000 PRISONERS AND 4000 GUNS LOST .IN THREE MONTHS. (Rec. October 18, 10.5 p.m.) ■ " _ ; London, October 17. The Allies have taken prisoner ninety thousand of tho enemy and captured eight hundred guns in the Balkans between September 15 aiid October 12. Two Austrian divisions and parts'of four German divisions are still operating in Serbia. Twelve thousand Turks under voiisSandere are concentrated at Aleppo. As regards the enemy's strength, it is pointed out in responsible quarters that tho Germans still have- altogether two hundred divisions, and although they have lost three hundred thousand in prisoners and four thousand guns on the Wejt front during the past three months, their line on the West is still unbroken, and their armies more ■or less intact. There is r.o general demoralisation, and hence it is still possible for tho Germans to protract the war for some months. The point is that there is no actual military reason alone at the moment why the enemy should capitulate unconditionally. —Reuter. : . THE OFFICIAL REPORTS BRITISH LANDING AT OSTEND (Rec. October 18, 10.55 p.m.) London, October 17. The Admiralty reports: "Air force contingents attached to the Navy landed at Ostend this morning and reported it clear of the enemy. Vice-Adiniral Keyes landed at Ostend during tho afternoon."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter. ■.. , • ■ " SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S DISPATCHES London, October 17, 10.10 a.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"On Tuesday the troops under the King of the Belgians continued the attacks between Dixmude and the Lys, and advanced to an average depth of over four miles. The Belgians crossed tho | Yser north of Dixmude and occupied Schoorbakke. The British crossed the Lys, and pushed several kilometres beyond Menin. The Belgians captured Thourout, the French Lichtorvede and Ardoye,' and the British occupied Menin. It is reported that they have entered Courtrai. Over twenty villages have been freed. The enemy delivered a strong local counter-attack at Hnussy, ■pressing us back to the western edge of the village, where fighting is now proceeding. We made further progress south-west of Lille."—Aus.-Is.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. The High Commissioner reports:— London, October 18, 1 a.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "To-day we cleared the eastern portion of Le Cateau against the determined counter-attaeks of seven German divisions, takinc 3000 prisoners. We entered Douai. General Birdwood has captured Lille." DISPATCHES ON THE YEAR'S OPERATIONS. . (Rec. October 19, 0.20 a.m.) London. October 18. Mr. Bonar Law, speaking in the House of Commons, said that Sir Douglas Haig's dispatches on this year's operations would be published during the next few days.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . ' ■ BELGIAN COMMUNIQUE ■ London, October 17. A , Belgian communique states:—"Our troops continued the advance on the wholo front. We crossed the Yser at Schoorbakke, and.made progress towards Schoore. We captured Kayem, and reached the Prnet Bosch Wood, and are enveloping Thourout. Our line has reached the railway stations at Wynendaele and Hooghe, on the Thouiout-Ostend road, where we advanced between Thourout and Mandel. French troops reached -Turfhauwe, captured Lichtervelde, and gained the outskirts of Coolscamp. . South of tho Lichter-velde-Thielt railway we advanced beyond Ardoye. The French entered tho park of Ardoye Castle, whence the lino runs to the outskirts of Lmelghem. Iseghem has been occupied. Further east the Belgians are beyond the railway station of Ingelinuiisler, and have reached tho Lys near Bavichovs Several hundred prisoners wore taken to-<lay. The enemy bombarded Dunkirk and Lapnmie' all day."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reutcr. FRENCH ADVANCE BEYOND SISSONE London, October 17. A French communique states:—"To-day we progressed north-west of Sissone and carral Notre Dame do Liosse, and also westward of Grand-Pre, wliero the village of Talma was captured."—Aub.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter, (Rec. October 18, 10.55 p.m.) London, October 17. A French communique states: "We maintained contact at night time along the entiro Oise-Serre front.. Machine-gunning and artillery firing aro f<iirlv active."—.Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. .

THE AMERICANS ON THE MEUSE

London, October 17, 2,55 a.m. An American communique states:—"The First American Army continues the ■ attacks, and has advanced on both sides ofthe Meuse."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . THE ENEMY'S REPORT, . . ' ■ ' ' iEec. October 18, lO.iw p.m.) . . . London, Ostober 17. : A wireless German official report states: "We withdrew our. front to a line eastward of Tliourout, tCoolscamp, and Inglemunslcr, behind the Lys."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ' , . . : ". ■