The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-11-08
FRENCH REG|AlA1f;,,...
rs SQUARE MILES
Petain's Troops Reach Ailette in
Pursuit of Foe.
SEEK NEW GERMAN LINE

! Teurons Use Mustard-Gas Shells &c
Halt Professionalism Of the
Trenches Discovered
by Patrol.
On the French Front In France,
Nov. 5.-The French advance i'm pur-
/ suit of the Germans beyond the Chem
In des Danes has attained an average
of mile and half, the southern bank
of the Allette being reached every.
where. Altogether since Saturday
about eighteen square miles of terri.
tory have fallen into French hands,
the progress being necessarily slow
owing to the uncertainty as to where
the Germans will make a stand.
Many points in the line We're bonn
barded by the German big guns during
the French advance, especially in the
neighborhood of Allies, where numer-
Gus mustard-gas shells somewhat de-
layed the progress of the French
troops.
French Find Traps.
greatest prudence In their movements
In consequence of the frequency of the
caverns on all sides in the hills. AS a
result of this caution the troops while
going forward discovered number Of
traps for the unwary.
In Cerny a steel helmet hung on a
pole was found on examination to have
an electric wire connection running
into 4 mine which would explode in
the event of the helmet being snatched
away. ............ ,.. ........
At the present moment the French
occupy every crest and possess all the
observatories above Craonne, ALLIES,
Cerny and CourteoIo, while so far as
can be made out, the Germans have
established their line on the other side
of the Ailette valley, whence a shower
Of bullets from numerous machine
guns come on occasions. They de-
stroyed every bridge over the Ailette
as they retired.
Find Trench Empty.
The German evacuation was discov-
cred on Friday by a patrol Of chas-
seurs. During the preceding night
any movement from the direction of
the French lines brought a salyo of
bullets, but toward dawn, when the
chasseurs were making daring patrol
they found one of the German front
trenches empty and Immediately gave
the alarm.
Other patrols advanced forward
hours afterward by strong infantry
units in front of which the French
artillery let down a heavy barrage
fire in order to prevent surprises. The
marching troops, however, found all
the trenches empty and a search of
dozens of shelters and tunnels con-
tirmed the departure of the Germans.
1t was evident that the German
troops which occupied the front lines
until the last moment received little
warning of the order to retire, as half
cooked meals, still hot, were found In
the saucepans.
Guns Active on Aisne Front.
TdElSJ NOV. O.---NOluDle uIlllleTy ut
tivity is continuing on the Aisne front,
north of the Chemin-des-Dames where
the French are occupying advanced
ground along the Ailette river, the war
Office announced.
In the Verdun area the Germans fol-
lowed up their heavy bombardment
with two attacks north of Chaume
wood, with both of which the French
artillery dealt successfully, causing
the Germans to sustain heavy casual
ties.
A surprise attack in the DamlOup
region was repulsed, as was a similar
German enterprise northwest Of Reims.
Fight Along the Ailette. pc.
Berlin, Nov. 5.-Lively artillery fire
and accommodating clashes along the
Ailette river front in northern France
are reported in the army headquarters
statement on operations in the western
war theater. In the Verdun region
German defensive fire prevented a
French attack which was preparing at
Chaume wood.
In Flanders the Improvement of the
German lines at various places, to-
gether with the repulse of local British
attacks, is reported.
| British Take Two Points.
London, Nov. BIN local actions on
the Flanders battle front at night
small detachments of British troops
captured from the Germans two strong
defensive points east of BrOodselnde
and southeast Of POelcapelle.
Irish fusllliers carried out a success
full raid southwest of HavrincOurt.
Two raids by the Germans on the Ar
ras front near Monchy-le-Preux were
tropulSad