Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-03-28
take STRATEGIC
GERMAN POSITION
Coucy Forest Falls in Night It.
tack by French; Teutons
Forced Back. ~~s --n-~.
CUT ST. QUENTIN RAIL LINE
Key to Hindenburg Position Periled by
Nivelle's Guns on Nearby Plateau
-Teutons Make Bloody A.
tempts to Mold French.

Paris, March 22S.-'rhe village of
Coucy LIE Chateau WA captured by
the French in an attack at night, the
war Office announces. Further prog
ress was made in the lower section OF
Coucy forest, all Of the northern part
Of Which IS nov, held BY the French.
" ""South. Of the Disc we contiiitted to
make progress in the lover forest OF
Coucy, all of the northern part OF
which we occupied the statement
says. "The enemy was driven li'', beyond
the Barisis-Servais line. South OF the
forest our troops made a brilliant night
attack and captured the village of
Coucy-le- Chateau, which was defended
,energetically by the Germans.
|. rAIn the region ,north. Of Of so nS! I'VE
captured ia falrTlpa northwest Of MIR
gival and point Of support held in
strength by the enemy, d.
"In the Argonne we made sue
cessful surprise attack in the sector OF
Four de Paris, taking prisoners. IN
Lorraine, enemy attacks on small
French posts in the, region Of Letri-
court were repulsed completely
Close on St. Quentin.
Driving forward north and south OF
St. Quentin. heart OF the Hindenbur,
line, the allies have cut two of the
four main railroads which feed the
city, while Il third is we'll within
reach of the French guns. With La
Fere inundated by the retreatng Ger
mans and two of its dominating forts
in the hands of the French. the Chief
interest in the tremendous battle which
has been raging for Il week on an So
mile front shifts TO historic st. Quen-
tin.
s The Germans are making desperate
and bloody attempts to wrest from
the French the EssIgny-Benay plateau
from which General; Nfvelle's guns
command the southern approaches to
tire city and render lis position. in
the opinion of military critics. one OF
grave peril. ,sa'.
Farther to the south the French
have forged well to the west OF st.
Quentin. hnmmering Il great dent IN
the German line between that town
and La Fere. The advance OF this
salient three miles further would give
the French possession of the last di-
rect railroad line between the two
towns.
British, Take Three More Towns.
London. March 2S.-The British in
their advance toward Cambria. have
occupied the villages of Longavesnes
LferumOnt and E4uancourt, the British
cavalry driving the Germans out. ac-
cordIng to the official report from Brit
ish headquarters in France.
The Reuter- correspondent ut the
British army headquarters in France
telegraphs:
1.-The taking Of LagnIcourt straight
ems our line between BeaubetH and
CrOisilleS. Il sector OF our advance
which the Germans continue to dis
pute more vigorously than elsewhere
EquancOurt. now taken, he says,
was point on which the enemy at
one time expected to make Il stand
Possession of Longavesnes greatly inl-
proves the British line between Roisel
and Nurlu.
Berlin Admits Retreats.
Berlin, March 2S.-The occupation
by entente troops of the French town
Of Roisel, after repeated efforts, was
announced by the war Office. In the
forest between the Disc and COucy-Le-
Chateau German troops gave way to
avoid being Outflanked. IL