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Show !fm iron mlb mi ww GREAT OFFENSIVE r IS PEACE ANSWER ON WEST FRONT Attack Launched Today in Flanders May Prove to Be Master Stroke of Strategic Campaign of Commander of Allied Armies. By Associated . Preea. - WITH THE ALLIED ARMIES IN FLANDERS, Oct. 14." 10:50 a. ni. British, Belgian and French forces attacked at dawn this morning on a wide front in Flanders. The allied troops are driving in the general direction of Ghent and Courtrai. The attack seems to be generally from Comines to the northward. north-ward. The troops of the three nations went over the top after a "crash" bombardment only. There was no preliminary bombardment. bombard-ment. . It undoubtedly tactically surprised the enemy. In the British formations were some of Great Britain's best troops. The forces of the French were of famous fiehtine- orrani- wtfions. Tha Germans appear prepared pre-pared to retire to the Ghent line. By the fury with which the attack waa launched it ia evident the fighting fight-ing arm lea are not paying the alight aat attention to ihe!'pace talk.'-They amaahed forward with all the daah characterizing the recent operatlona. The blow in Handera may prove to he Marshal Koch's master stroke. If the allied progress is continued the Germans throutchout a wide stretch of territory,, taking in the most important impor-tant part of the Belgian coast, tnclud- ing possibly the important German submarine bases, as well as the forces in the entire L.ille salient, either will have to get out or face a second Herlan. Keports from the advanced poal-V poal-V tions this morning indicated that the Whrea groups of ...Hllird. troops were making excellent progress in the Belgian Bel-gian coast salient from which the (Jet mans have, been precipitately removing re-moving war material for two weeks. Kvery foot- of ground gained here alio deepens the Lille salient and suc-renH suc-renH means that the enemy will be obliged to evacuate to the south as well as to the north of the front attacked. at-tacked. The attack would have been launched before now had the ground been ready. |