Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-10-23
.PETA|N LAUNCHES
ATTACK ON AISlG
Offensive by French Forces
May Prove to Be of Major
importance.
ALLIES HOLD CHIEF GAINS

What may prove to be an operation
of irst-rate Importance was initiated by
Gen. Petain early today in the Aisne
region northeast of Scissors.
Along front approximately three
miles in extent the French infantry
dashed forward, attacking the salient
in the German line which curves about
it's southwestern keystone, the fort
ress of Laon.
Fort de la Malmaison, the German
stronghold, which baffied the French in
last springs attack, barring their way
to the westerly end of the Chemin-Des-
Danes. is apparently one of. the imme-
diate detectives of the offensive. For
days past the big French guns have
been hammcring this front heavily. both
the Paris and Berlin reports indicating
that some major movement was in
preparation.
Petain Reports Progress.
Good progress was reported early in
the day by Gen. Petain. the French fore
u
front of the attack.
The taking of Fort de Ia Malmaison
would materially aid in the pushing OF
an attack on Laon, In an attempt to
turn the German line In this region. al
though it has been considered probable
that the main blow in such an attack
would be struck further to the east,
where the back door road to Laon offers
superior tactical advantages.
Virtually all the ground gained in
tra 10 AnR ha q
been retained by the entente forces. At
only one point in the southern part of
Houtholst wood were tho Germans able
to regain any ground in counter at
lacks. and here it was only a single
British post that was pushed back a
short distance. The ground won was
consolidated along the remainder of the
front.
Numerous Prisoners Taken.
BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, October 23.-An attack was
made by the French early this morn
ing on the Aisne front northeast of
scissors. The war offfce reports that
considerable progress was made along
the whole battle front and that numer-
Gus priZoners were taken.
The statement follows:
This morning at sis o'clock, after
artillery preparation for several hours,
our troops assaulted the powerful Ger.
man position in the region Of Allenant
sons. On the whole front of attack
we made good progress and we took
number of prisoners.
Northwest of Rheims there was
rather heavy artillery lighting in tho
night Three surprise attacks against
and east of Neuville were without re-
suit.
I'm the Argonne an incursion into
German trenches at Cheppy wood en-
abled US to inf1ict losses on the enemy
and bring back prisoners.
ION the right bank of the Mouse
(Verdun 'front.' the artillery action be-
came violent late in the night in the
region north of Hill 344."
Germans Regain One Post.
LONDON. October 90. The Germans
last night attacked one of the newly
captured British positions In Flanders
and forced back the troops holding it.
the war office announces. Elsewhere
the British gains of yesterday have
been maintained.
Rain fell again last night and tho
weather has been stormy and unsettled.
Early In the night the enemy attacked
part of Houtholst forest and forced
the troops holding it to fall back
short distance. On the remainder of
the front our gains have been main
tanned and consolidated"
Report From Battle Front.
BRITISH FRONT IN FRANCE AND
made by the French and British troops
this morning over limited front
astride the Ypres- Staden railway had
at the latest report resulted in the
requirement of considerable territory
for the Improvement Of the allied posi-
lions in this sector The zone in
volved extended roughly from Poelca-
pelle to the southern edge Of Houtholst
forest.
dition of the ground. due to recent
rains, the allies pushed their line for
ward several hundred yards over most
of this front. and at one point on the
left of the attacking front had pene-
trated the German lines to depth of
two thirds of mile. The much fought
over brewery in the eastern enyirons
of Poelcapelle seems again. to have
been occupied by the British. who also
took the strongly fortified Mounier
house to the east of the town.
Germans in Counter Attack.
In the region east of Poelcapelle the
British were holding positions 500
yards in advance of their old line along
a front of about a mile. Just north of
here, on both sides of the Ypres-Staden
"a ilway. heavy fighting was still in
progress. the Germans having deliv-
sred violent counter attack along the
in the forenoon.
The greatest gain was achieved
south of the Houtholst forest. Here
he British. with the French on their
eft. fought their way forward in the
outlying copses in face of heavy ma
chine gun fire, and at one place car
lied the battle to the enemy posts a
thousand yards in front of the allied
ines. Hard fighting was reported from |
his section. for the Germans imme- |
lately prepared for counter attacks
The allied attack was launched at |
$40 o'clock. The weather was very |
lazy. rendering observation difficult. |
out as the day progressed the WISH |
,ility improved.