The sun., 1917-03-27
FRENCH CLOSER
TO ST. QUENTIN
Capture FOlembray and La
Feuillee, Village Near
COucy.
BRITISH MOVING AHEAD
Occupy Lagnicourt, Six Miles
Northeast of Bapaume, and
Repulse Attacks.
BRITISH MOVING AHEAD

LONDON. March e6.-Developments to-
day In the big battle on the Hindenburg
line in northeastern France were all IA
vorable to the French and British De-
spite muddy ground and bad weather the
French progressed at some points and
successfully repulsed heavy German
counter attacks at others. The British
also moved forward.
Fighting their way forward up hill and
through heavily wooded country, the
troops OF Gen. Nivelle made important
gains in the enveloping Of the forest OF
St Gobain, between La Fere and Laon.
They captured the town Of Folembray. in
the outskirts OF the forest, and the little
village OF La Feuillee, a few hundred
yards from Coucy.
The French made a brilliant defence
OF their hard won positions on the pla-
teau OF Essigny. southwest OF ST Quen-
TIN. During the night the Germans at
tackled these positions time after time.
Every attempt was broken by the French
artillery fire or BY . counter attack Of
the infantry.
Gen Nivelle's troops made progress
also In the region OF Vregny, north Of
Soissons 10 cover the right flank Of the
troops operating IN the St. Gobain for
est and strike az the German line where
1t pivoted when the retirement began.
According to military opinion in Paris
the successful French defence southwest
OF 81. Quentin may have great results
The Ess!gny-Benay position, which the
Germans attacked. exposes st Quentin
TO the south and may force the German
left wing In this sector back on the Disc
ana imperil the whole system protecting
81. quentin. Essigny Is on a wide hill
lock $50 feet high. and Beray on a
similar height fankIng It on the south
east.
St Quentin Ia protected on the north.
west by the Omignon River, which, al
though only brook. like most OF the
soinme tributaries, runs through broad
valley full OF swamps and clumps OF
trees, which greatly increase It's de-
fensive value. To the west the an
proaches to the city are over a bare fat
plain devoid Of any natural obstacle and
with but few villages. Here the French
advance Is naturally most rapid. but
the plain narrows and ends In a sharp
point at st. Quentin. At Savy the most
favorable point, the Germans have built
their main defensive line
Key Position Is Taken.
The German right runs from the
Omignon River at Nernand 10 the Hol-
non wood. and their centre Is at Savy.
Against these two sections the French
have so far made little headway, but on
the German left they have carried the
strong key position on the plateaus of
Essigny and Benay. This section, ex-
tending from the Somme north Of Serau-
court TO the Disc at Nendeuil runs
through gently undulating country,
which offers admirable fields Of hre to the
defenders.
The French made an irnpressio Sun
day on the bulge in their line formed by
the lower Coucy forest. Troops which
crossed the Ailette and attacked the
salient at It's apex succeeded In estah-
fishing footing on the Soissons-St.
Quentin high road at Folemhray and
Coucy- -le-Chateau.
The British share in the days SUCCESS
was the capture of the village OF Lagni.
court, six miles northwest Of Bapaurne.
and the repulse OF several German
counter attacks. one attack was caught
In the open by the British artillery and
was not developed
An interesting feature OF the events
Of the day IA reported is the fact that
there was great deal Of air fighting
oe.o Neu'ille-St Vast and A.men-
there's. mostly over the German lines
Five German and seven british airplanes
were brought down This activity is
taken 10 indicate that German re-
tirement north OF Arras Ia not far of
The official statements follow: