The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-10-26
j.. j. pljo..Il,5
v.j TOWARD LA0N
CIV Positions Ire Captured IN
AiSne IriVe.
$500 PRISONERS TAKEN
Heaps of German Dead Were Found
Under the Ruins of Quarry Shelters.
Tanks Used in Battle.

i Paris, Oct. 26.-Further progress
IS made b. tie French on the Ais
- front, between Chcyignon and
:Iont des Singes.
The war Office statement says t',a'
ne farm of Rehay was captured an
nat a number of prisoners were tax
n.
twenty-five German airplanes were
brought down by French pilots or
compelled to land in a damaged condi-
lion, the war Office says.
North of the Aisne," the announce
ment reads, "the situation in the Sec
tor between Braye-en-Laoners and
Chavignon was not changed during
the night. On the front between Mont
des Singes and Chavignon our troops
made further progress and reached
Rohay farm. The number of prison
ers taken up to Tuesday night in this
region exceeds 500. (This makes $500
prisoners so far taken in the Aisne
drive)
There were vigorous artillery en-
gagements in the region of Cerny-
en-Laonnois, especially in the sector
Or vauvmalruns. we u1spersEu Ger-
man patrols which attempted to ap-
proach our lines east Of Cerny. An
attack on the Sapigeneul bridgehead,
which the enemy made after a violent
bombardment, was repulsed.
"On the left bank of the Mouse
there was heavy artillery fighting in
the sector of Chaume wood. In tho
region of Epargas we carried out q
detailed operation which enabled us
to bring back prisoners.
German aviators threw down two
bombs on Nancy. There were no VIC
TINS"
Tuesday nights bulletin from the
war office announced that the eaptur-
ed heavy guns are more than seventy,
while thirty mine throwers and eighty
machine guns are among the booty.
Comparative quiet has succeeded
Tuesdays battle. The Germans, as
tonished by the rapidity and extent or
the French success, seemed momen.
tarily stunned. It is probable that
they are engaged in moving their ar
tillery to the rear. =
Prisoners arriving in driblets appear
to have suffered great privations from
lack of supplies during the French ar
tillery preparation.
The French aviation service IL
greatly praised for it's work. During
he attack it performed immense serv-
'ce. working under the most unfavof-
able conditions. The airmen flew over
he infantry when they were making
ne attack. When they saw the Ger
nan infantry assembling for a counter
tack they advanced at an altitude OF
css than 100 yards, showered ma
thine gun bullets upon the soldiers
md dispersed the assemblage. y
All the airplanes participating in
he battle were riddled with bullets.
me of them fell blazing among the
French troops. The pilot was unin-
fured, and ran to the nearest battalion
commander with highly valuable In
formation.
Several squadrons of tanks partici-
IA ed IN lut DdlllS oAu
work in company with the advancing
infantry. It was by means OF these
most modern implements that the FIJI
an farm was captured.
Most Of the prisoners taken were
caught in quarries. One group, com
posed of 400 men, was aed out to sur
render by a German soldier who
spoke French. He assured his com
rades they need not fear bad treat
ment from their captors, despite the
assertions currently made to them by
their officers that the French mas
sacred prisoners. Another batch or
prisoners fell into the hands of the
French just as they alighted from
motor trucks, in which they had been
hurried to the battlefield as reinforce
ments.
The losses of the Germans were
extremely heavy. as was testified to
by the heaps of dead found beneath
the ruins of quarries, which crumblec
under the French bombardment. The
French casualties were rather below
normal.