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Show HUNS NOW RETIRING TO LINE OF THEMEUSE Belief That Any Pause Will Be But Temporary Tempo-rary to Permit Readjustment Read-justment of Columns. Allied Armies Are Now Hampered by Extending Extend-ing Communications, Giving Enemy Respite. WASHINGTON, Oct. 22. Now that the Germans have been cleared out of Belgian Flanders and much of northern France, army officials here arc watching watch-ing the battlefront intently, many of them with a distinct feeling that a new storm of attack may be about to break against the enemy. There was nothing tonight to indicate that this expectancy expec-tancy was founded upon definite infor-miatiou, infor-miatiou, and it probably grows out of a number of happenings of a minor character in themselves, but possibly important links in he chain of events soon to be disclosed. Beyond doubt the German retirement in Belgium has slowed down. However, It is not yet clear whether this is due to the fact that the retreating forces are nearing on the whole northern front the line which frequently has been selected se-lected by military critics as the first pausing place on the way to the Meuse or the border, or to "the necessities of extending allied communication lines as the troops advance. It is probable, officers said, that there is necessity for a breatliing spell on both sides. HUN ARMY HEADS FOR MEUSE LINE. There is little doubt here that the German army is headed for nothing short of the "Meuse line,' and that any pause will be but temporary to permit readjustment of the columns and supply lines in order that the same orderly r'juence of movements shall characterize character-ize subsequent retirements. Several halts of this character may be expected, it was said, as the withdrawal project is carried out. The fact that the allied armies are hampered by extending communication com-munication lines gives opportunity for such halts before Marshal Foch 's forces can come up in sufficient force to compel com-pel a resumption of the rearward movement. move-ment. The line surrendered by the enemy from Lille northward to tho coast, it was pointed out, was-far stronger and no longer than that he now stands upon in Belgium. In addition, by the evacuation evacu-ation of the Flanders coast, he has furnished fur-nished the allies with means of setting up new and more direct communication lines from England via Ostend, Zee-brugge Zee-brugge or other Flanders ports. Without With-out question, it is said, these avenues of supplying the advancing armies already are being opened to free the longer lines back into France of that burden, and consequently officers can n&t sfee any tactical advantage gained by the enemy unless he intends to -fall back at least to the line of the Meuse. FIRST STAGE NOW ALMOST COMPLETE. The first stage of the great retreat is almost, complete. Th"e German right flank has been swung back like a gate all the wan from Solesmes. south of Valenciennes, to the Dutch barrier. South of the pivot, however, there has been little change on the front froi the Oise to the Meuse. It has been noted that heavy concentration of forces was made by the Germans on the Le ("ateau-Oise-Serre front, and also i against the American pressure north- j west of Verdun. Without question the j (Continued on Paje Four.) a new and crushing blow. With the hope of early peace being dangled before be-fore the eyes of the war weary German troops, their morale will be at its lowest ebb. it was snid, while in the allied and American ranks the round-about German Ger-man admissions of defeat can only have given new rest for the fight. HUNS RETURNING TO LINE OF THE ME USE (Continued from Page One.) retention of these lines unbroken -was vital to the German plan of action. Now that tho withdrawal in the north has progressed eo fully, however, it would cause no surprlso here if a retirement re-tirement between the Oise and the Serre were undertaken without delay to rectify recti-fy the whole line. To many officers it seems possible that now events havo so shaped the lines that a great drive may soon be undertaken, un-dertaken, calculated to upset tho whole Germnn plan of retirement. Already the allied lines havo been shortened so that, considerable forces must be available avail-able for the work, particularly British. The time con not be far away when the American Second army, under Major General Bullnrd, will be put into play. To some observers It seems possible that a wide attack may be made by the two American armies, both east and west of the Mouse, the thrust being aimed at the great, rail artery passing through Sedan and Montmedy. A cooperating co-operating French assault west of tho Argonne would naturally be a part of such a thrust. To other off icesr, how-over, how-over, recent French raiding oporatious in Alsace seetu to have significance. Apparently Information is desired as t'o tho Germnn strength on that front and as to the character and quality of the troops there. Such raids invariably precede offensive operations, although (hey rarely disclose by their Ideality the exact place of the proposed attack". So far as tho Germnn pence overtures are concerned, army oxfiders hold that manifestly now is tile time of times for |