On 2 October this policy showed its fruits when the Germans began to withdraw on a front extending from Lens to Armentieres. The move was made necessary by the pressure of the Allies on each side of this sector, that is, at Cambrai in the south and on the Roulers front in Belgium, where a force of Belgians and British were advancing. To increase the pressure at the latter point Foch sent forward a French army under General Degoutte. Some days passed ere it got into action, but in' the south the French armies were actively engaged, advancing at Saint Quentin slightly and mak ing some gains on the Aisne and northwest of Rheims. In the Champagne General Gouraud took an important step toward Vouziers. On this day came news that General Allenby had taken Damascus on 1 October with 7,000 pris oners.
On 3 October the French armies kept up their pressure in the south and the British went forward near Cambrai and in Belgium.. They also occupied Lens and Armentieres, long con tested by the Germans, whose voluntary with drawal at this time indicated how hardly they were pressed in other quarters. The British followed after them and came next day within six miles of Lille, which they hoped to talce without a destructive cannonade. The day of 4 October, also, brought them heavy counter attacks in the sector between Saint Quentin and Cambrai, which they repulsed with steadiness. On this day Generals Gouraud and Pershing, having brought up their guns, made a new at tac.k which gave each of theni an important step forward. The first, with the aid of the 2d division of the United States troops, took Blanc Mont commanding the region north of Somme Py. It was so important a gain that next day, the 5th, Gouraud moved forward on a line running east to the Argonne, advancing as much as five miles in some parts of it. On the east of the Argonne Pershing made import ant gains that flanked the formidable forest and enabled the lines within its recesses to move forward two kilometers. On the 5th, also, the British delivered telling blows against the Sieg fried line south of Cambrai, where it remained intact. They weakened its resistance and pre pared the way for a more serious blow a few days later. On this day it was announced in Berne that Austria had appealed to President Wilson through the Swiss government for a Peace Conference, at which terms should be discussed. Next day, 6 October, it was an notmced that Germany joined in the appeal and asked for an immediate armistice on the basis of the Fourteen Points and supplementary de mands announced by President Wilson. This action gave the war a sudden and decisive turn. It was the beginning of surrender and the Ger mans could not hope to resume their battle with any pretension of victory after it was an nounced. In the Allied countries it was re
ceived with an air of disappointment For more than four years the Germans had seemed to have the advantage: now. that they were clearly facing defeat should they be allowed to escape punishment by crying gKamerad"? For several days the request was the chief object of debate in the newspapers, until President Wilson sent a reply desurned to make Germany specify her terms of submission.
Meanwhile, there was no relaxation of mili tary efforts. Winter was approaching and it did not behoove Foch to allow the enemy respite under cover of negotiations until he could place himself behind its friendly pro tection with immunity for another quarter of a year. Steady pressure, therefore, continued on 7 October and on the 8th the British with the aid of the French artnv of General Debeney hurled themselves on the softened Siegfried line south of Cambrai and swept it away on a 20-mile front, advancing three miles in most of that sector. In this act the 30th United States division took an important part at the point where the French and British elements ap proached one another, taking the towns of Brancourt and Fremont after severe fighting. Next day the blow was repeated on a more ex tended front and with even greater success. The weakened condition of the enemy was shown by the fact that he staggered back nine miles at some parts of the 30-mile sector in which he was attacIced. On this day, the 8th, Cam brai, for four years an objective of the Allies, was occupied and 10,000 prisoners were taken. On the Meuse the day was signalized by a re newal of the attacics General Pershing, who was now hard against the Kremhilde line. a great thrust he took Romagne and thus drove an initial wedge into the system, beginning a steady series of advances which were destined to carry him through the entire series of trenches and bastions, at the end of the month. On 10 October Generals Rawlinson and Debeney continued their attacks east of Cambrai and Saint Quentin. Le Cateau was taken by the British and the Germans were forced back to the Selle River, where they undertook to or ganize a line of defense. It was a slender hope; for there was no time for constructing proper trenches and the pursuers, turning every stone to get up their guns, could not be expected to delay more than a few days before drenching the new lines with another of the concentmted cannonades before which no human beings could stand. On 17 October the attack was re newed and the Germans were pushed back with little effort until they stood behind the Sambre Canal. Here the British were within 20 miles of the railroad through Hirson.