The sun., 1918-09-20

BRITISH tNIGHT)-Further re-
ports confirm the heavy nature OF the
counter attack which the enemy deliv-
cred yesterday afternoon north OF
Trescault and the severity OF the losses
inflicted on his divisions. including the
sixth Brandenbure division.
Fighting has taken place to-day in
The sector east of Epehy and also In
the neighborhood OF Gouzeaucourt,
where we gained ground north OF
Gauche Wood.
On the remainder OF the battle front
only local engagements are reported.
we captured few prisoners to-day In
local lighting south OF Auch-lex-La
Bassee and improved our positions
slightly west of Wytschaete. Hostile
raiding parties were repulsed east Of
Neuve Chappelle and north OF the
Ypres-Comines Canal.
The prisoners taken by us In the
operations begun yesterday northwest
or st. Quentin, exceed 10000. We
also captured more than sixty guns.
The enemy aircraft activity was
slight yesterday. Four hostile planes
were brought down and three others
were driven down out of control. Four
OF our machines are missing.
Our planes kept in touch with the
advancing troops and assisted In the
attack by bombing and with machine
gun fire, as well as by reporting many
targets to the artillery. During the
twenty-four hours sixteen tons Of
bombs were dropped.
BRITISH (DAy)--A violent bonn
bardment from a large number OF
guns was opened by the enemy yester-
day afternoon on the northern portion
of the battle front. between Gouzeau-
court and the Arras-Cambrai road.
Telephone communication with the d.
visions in the line was repeatedly cut
by the intensity Of the hostile fire.
At s o'clock In the evening German
infantry attacked in strength on a
wide 'front.' from the neighborhood Of
Trescault northward. At all points
they were completely repulsed with
great loss by troops OF the Guards Of
the Third and Thirty-seventh divisions
Another strong attack delivered
shortly afterward north Of Moeuvres
was also driven Off with heavy Ger
man losses. At certain locahties
bodies OF the enemy succeeded In
reaching and entering our trenches.
where they we're overwhelmed by
counter attacks.
In all such localities our line has
been reestablished and Is intact.
Many prisoners have been taken by
our troops and great numbers Of Ger
man dead are lying before our posi-
tions on the whole front Of the enemy
attack.
South OF Gouzeaucourt the opera
lions OF the Third and Fourth British
armies continued successful yesterday
evening and last night. English troops
progressed north Of Pontruet. reaching
the outpost positions Of the linden
burg line in this sector.
On the left the Fourth Australian
Division renewed the attack at IL
o'clock at night and carried the out
post positions Of the Hindenburg line
after heavy fighting. Many prisoners
and a number of machine guns were
taken In this successful operation.
This division and the First Austria
liam Division now hold the outpost po-
sitions OF the Hindenburg line IN the
whole Of their respective fronts.
Further north severe fighting has
taken place east Of RonSsoy and
Epehy. We have gained possession OF
Iampire and beaten of determined
hostile counter attacks.
In the Villers -Guislain sector the
division which in yesterdays advance
took several hundred prisoners. recep-
tured Gauche Wood. which the enemy
had regained by counter attack.
Late In the afternoon il repulsed with
heavy losses a strong counter attack
launched by the enemy from Villers-
Euislain.y At Gauche Wood repeated
attacks delivered by the enemy in the
afternoon and evening were repulsed.
BY a successful local operation car
ried out yesterdaymorningwe improved
our positions south and east OF Ploeg-
steert (Flanders) and captured
number OF prisoners.
FRENCH tNighD-We extended
our gains Notwithstanding the en-
emy's stubborn resistance and ad-
vanced beyond Contescourt, which is
entirely in our hands. We also cap
tured Castres. We have reached the
outskirts of Beray.
We broke all counter attacks on the
plateaux to the west of Jouy (Sois-
sons sector). inflicting severe losses
on the enemy, appreciably increasing
our advance and capturing 100 pris-
oners.
FRENCH DAYl-In the region of
st. Quentin the French troops contin-
ued their progress and have penetrated
Contescourt, which the enemy is de-
Tending with desperation.
North of the Aisne there was heavy
artillery activity. A strong German
counter attack in the region OF the
Noisy Farm was without result. Our
troops maintained their positions com
pletely and inflicted losses on the at
hackers.
Along the Vesle front German at
tack northeast of CourlaTdon was
broken up by the French fire before
the attackers reached the front line.
We have repulsed several German
raids in the Champagne and along the
Meuse
GERMAN ,NIGHT)-On yester-
days battle front between Havrincourt
Wood and the Somme the British linz
tied themselves to violent partial at
tacks, which were repulsed every
where.
GERMAN (DAY) - Northeast OF
Bixschoote we cleared portion of the
trenches which remaioed TO the enemy
in the fighting OF September 0 and
took 1875 Belgian prisoners. There has
been lively accommodating activity be-