The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-03-26
Occupy Ground Dominating
German Position at st.
Quentin.
TEUTON LOSSES HEAVY
Niyelle's Men Aroused to Fury
by Spectacle of Deyas-
tated Country.


Of the Germans in st. Quentin is pre-
earious
an the course of the day a desperate
struggle followed a strong defence by
the enemy" says the French official
statement tonight, but our soldiers,
aroused by the spectacle of the ravages
committed by the Germans, everywhere
drove back the adversary. who suffered
serious losses
Gen. Nivelle widened toward the north
the wedge he Is driving into the Ger
man lines between st. Quentin and La
Fere. so that the French now occupy
higher ground than ST. Quentin itself. in
the Somme Valley. These new French
positions are directly south of the city
and only about two miles from It,
Germans Lose Position.
An impetuous attack by the French
infantry, assisted by the heavy guns
which they have brought into action,
drove the Germans from the position cN-
tending from Castres, through Esslgny
TO Hill l2l, east of the st. Quentin-l.a
Fere railroad, and on the irregular ridge
that protected st. Quentin from the
broken by French artillery fire.
The French have made much progress
in an enveloping movement on St Quen-
tin. This can be completed only when
tAe British make n corresponding ad-
vance. Their lines join the French west
OF the city. but their advance has not
kept pace with the French.
South of the Disc French detachments
penetrated the lower forest of Coucy.
1F ha In
st. Gobain, and reached the outskirts
OF Fo!embray and Coucy -le- Chateau.
THESE two towns are on the edge of the
slope which reaches its apex in the
centre OF the forest and makes II a
dh'cult position for infantry to take.
EnvelopinG st. Gobain Forest.
South Of St Gobain forest, which is in
ne region directly north and northeast
OF eoissons, between the Disc and the
Aisns The French made some progress
thelr enort to envelop the fores,
from the southeast. Two attacks the
Germans made against the Vregny-
Aargivai front. five miles from the for
est were repulsed.
Practically no progress by the British
announced to-day. except that their DO
siton west of Croisilles. fifteen miles
vest OF Cambria, was improved. Evil
asntly the Germans on this part of the
'front.' have reached their prepared posi-
uons' The British expect that the Ger
man retirement will spread TO the region
north OF the present line. as indica ted
by explosions be yond Arras, and are pre-
pared 70 follow this up.
Inc German official statement admits
setrements before the French and Brit
'sh. IL asserts that British trenches
southeast OF Ypres had been evacuat led
wnen German raiding troops entered
them after bombardment. The Ypres
sAnent Is the weakest sector of the
BRUSH line Its evacuation for stronger
post'ons to the rear has often been dts
eussed The Official statements follow ::
Big Battle Il Fought.
French night statement-From tho
Oomme TO the Aisne our troops con-
tinue their offensive movement In the
course OF the day a desperate struggle
followed strong defence by the en-
emy. but our soldiers. aroused by the
spectacle or the ravages committed by
ne Germans, everywhere drove back
the adversary, who suffered serious
losses
Between the somme and the Disc
We drove the enemy out OF the impor-
taht position Of Castres- Essigny-le-
Grand and Hill l21. 4 violent German
| counter attack debouching on the front
oetween Essigny and Beuay was
broken down by our fire.
South Of the Oise our troops pene-
uated several points in the lower for
est OF Coucy. and reached the out
skirts OF Folembray and Coucy-le-
Chateau. German troops on the march
IN the direction OF Folembray were
caught under the furious fire Of our
batteries and dispersed with heavy
losses
French Increase Gains.
worth Of Scissors we Increased our
sains and re?ulsed two counter attacks
alrected asa'st the Vregny-Margival
front
Active artillery fighting on both sides
took place In the region of Graonne
northeast of Soissons).
On the Nerdun front our batteries
effectively shelled the German organ!-
tations north OF Hill 304 and north
west Of Bezonvaux.
French afternoon statement-Dur.
ing the night we made further prog
ress north Of Grand Seraucourt in the
direction OF ST. Quentin.
Between the Somme and the Disc
'he night was relatively calm. Prison.
ers taken by US yesterday belong to
seven regiments
On The east bank OF the Ailette we
advanced noticeaby south OF Chauny
ana consolidated our positions, as we
old also In the region north OF Sois-
sons
west Of the Meuse We executed a
surpriS" attack and captured elements
ot enemy trenches east OF the Malan-
court wood
German Attack RePuls~d.
III East of tho Meuse a German attack
| vpoh one OF our trenches In the direc-
non or Apremont was repulsed with
hand srenades
I"ere is nothing to report from the
rest OF the front
N .h,ation--During the day OF March
| ~ AnN prtoll brought down his sixth
oernan machine. Another enemy
niachlne was destroyed In an aerial
.onnoat In tho region of Bois Fon-
oerman avators dropped numerous
combs yesterday on Calais and Dun
""h' In Dunkirk there were neither
"
Continued on Third Page.