On September 28, the Belgian Army and the British Second Army (General Plumer), commanded by King Albert, marched against the army of Von Arnim. The British, covered on the north by the Belgians, began a turning movement in the region of Lille, Roubaix and Tourcoing. Houthulst Forest, the crests of Passchendaele and Gheluvelt, and Dixmude were carried with fine dash. Crossing the Lys on the following days between Wervicq and Comines, the British now drew near to Menin. On October 1, the Germans were in full retreat on a wide front north and south of the Bassée Canal, all their positions between Armentières and the south of Lens being now abandoned. [Illustration: DESTROYED BRITISH TANK SUNK IN THE MUD AT THE ENTRANCE TO POELCAPPELLE] On October 9, the Canadians of the First Army occupied Cambrai. On the 13th, the British reached the gates of Douai and occupied the banks of the Haute-Deule Canal from Douai to Vendin-le-Vieil. Elsewhere, the British Second Army, after capturing Menin and Wervicq, obtained a footing on the right bank of the Lys, then crossed the river between Menin and Armentières, thus forcing the Germans to abandon the line of the Haute-Deule, and taking the Lille-Tourcoing in the rear. The British army and some French units occupied Lille--capital of the north--on October 17, and the same days the Germans evacuated Douai. Roubaix and Tourcoing were liberated the next day, and Denain, Marchiennes and Orchies on the 21st and 22nd. The Western suburbs of Valenciennes were fiercely disputed, being finally retaken on November 2 by the Canadian troops under General Currie. A few days later the Armistice was signed, and the victory of the Allied armies sealed. [Illustration: FIRST ITINERARY FOR VISITING THE BATTLEFIELD] [Illustration: GERMAN OCCUPATION OF LILLE. TROOPS PARADING IN THE GREAT SQUARE _From the Michelin Guide: "Lille, before and during the War."_] VISIT TO THE BATTLEFIELD A visit to Ypres Town and Salient requires two days, and may be made most conveniently by taking Lille as the starting-point. _First Day_: Visit Messines, Wytschaete, Houthem, Zondvoorde, Gheluvelt, Becelaere, Zonnebeke, Passchendaele, Langemarck, Ypres, Zollebeke and Hooge, spending the night at Poperinghe. _Second Day_: Visit the Hills: Scherpenberg, Vidaigne, Rouge and Kemmel; then, after re-crossing the French frontier, those of Cats and Noir, returning to Lille for the night, via Armentières, Estaires, Béthune and La Bassée. =FIRST DAY: LILLE--YPRES= (_See Itinerary, p. 47._) Starting-point: The Grande Place, Lille. _Take Rue Nationale to the end, go round Place Tourcoing, take Rue de La Bassée on the left, then the first turning on the right (Rue de Turenne), Canteleu Gate, and Rue Lequeux. Cross the bridge over the Haute-Deule Canal, and turn to the left into N. 42._