The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-11-05
FRENCH REACH
SOUTHbANk0F
A|LETTE RIVER
Germans Give Up 18 Square
Miles of Territory
ADVANCE MADE SLOWLY
Many Mustard Gas Shells Used by
Tsutons to Make Advance Pre-
carIous for French.

On the French Front in 4 France
Nov. 4-The French advance in pur-
suit OF the Germans beyond the
Chemin.des-Dame has attained an
average Of mile and half, the
southern bank OF the Ailette being
reached everywhere Altogether
since yesterday. Is square miles Oh
territory have fallen into French
hands, the progress being necessarily
slow owing to the uncertainty as to
where the Germans Will make
stand
Many points in the line were BON
barded by the German big guns dur
ing the French advance, especially III
the neighborhood OF Allies, where
numerous mustard-gas shells some
what delayed the progress of the
French troops.
The French are displaying the
greatest prudence in their move
ments In consequence OF the frequen
cy OF the caverns on all sides OF the
hills. AS a result Of this troops go
ing forward discovered number OF
traps for the unwary. In Cerny q
steel helmet hung on pole was
found on examination to have an cleo
trio wire connection running into a
mine which would explode In the
even OF the helmet being snatehea
away.
4At the present moment the Frenel
occupy every crest and poses ali
the observatories above Craonne
Allies, Cerny and Courtecon, 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 nu
merous machine guns comes occa
sionally. They destroyed every
bridge over the Ailette as they re.
tired
Tho German evacuation was dis
covered on Friday by a patrol of chas
seurs. During. the preceding night
any movement from the direction OF
the French lines brought salvo oi
bullets, but toward dawn when the
chasseurs were making a daring pa
troll they found one Of the German
front trenches empty and immediate
~ gave the alarm.
London, Nov. A violent artil-
lery duel is In progress along the
Tagliamento, on the Italian battle
front The Italian big guns return
ing the AustroGerman fire.. Appar
emily the Germans have been unable
to cross the river and launch an in
fantry attack against the Italians
holding the west bank
The Austro-Germans have rushed
reinforcements to the northern end
OF the Italian lines where the Teuton
forces are attempting to turn tho
Italian left wing and cut off the main
Italian army In the Venetian plains.
A big battle is in progress on the
Trentino front and In the first stages
OF the conflict the Italians have been
successful
Massing huge battery OF guns on
this front, the Teutons yigorou5ly
bombarded the Italian lines and ther
launched heavy infantry attacks
Hard fighting follower in the Daont
and Giumell valleys and the Austro
German drives were repulsed, leav
ing few prisoners in the hands o.
the Italians.
Berlin. Nov l. via London--Artil
lcry activity OF varying degree H.
reported along the line of the Taglie
mento in Northern italy by the arms
headquarters staff in today's oflicia
etatement 1t reads:
"slonc tho Tagliamento there has
been artillery activity of varying In
tsnsity."
supplementary official state
rnent from general headquarters ls
sued tonight says that no reports o.
important engagements have heen re-
ceived from any front.
-4 ----------------------
POWNAL