The sun., 1918-09-21
Germans Make Five COun-
ter Attacks in Effort to
Check Mangin.
FRENCH LIKE A WALL
Enemy ResistingDesperate-
ly as ChavignOn Plateau
Is EncrOached On.
BRILLIANT WORK BY SCOTS
Rcwinning Of MoeuvreS Result
of Courageous Fighting
British Advance Mile.
FRENCH LIKE A WALL
BRILLIANT WORK BY SCOTS

LONDON. Sept. 20-On the western
front chief interest now is directed
to the operations of the French in
their drive over the Laffaux plateau.
northeast of Scissors, the results Of
which promise to be of the highest
importance. Despite difficulties Of
terrain heretofore regarded as in
superable the French have pushed
ahead steadily with n remarkable
tenacity Of purpose, and little by lit
tie have progressed until they are
within fraction of mile of the
famous Chemin des Danes, struggles
for which in the past have cost both
the French and the Germans many
thousands of lives.
The Germans are fighting with a
desperation not equalled in recent
times TO retain possession of the
vantage points they hold but grad
ually are being forced back. 4 very
strong German attack north of Allie
mant, between the Ailette and the
Alsne. was repulsed last night with
very heavy losses to the Germans,
and the French also gained addi-
tional ground northeast of Vailly.
The night report from Paris says
progress was made to-day east of Is
signy-le- -Grande and the Noisy Farm,
south of ST. Quentin.
Scots Recapture Moeuvres.
On the st. Quentin sector there was
another lull. although Scottish troops
this morning recaptured the village OF
Moeuvres. west of Cambria, according
/ TO the British night report. Last night
the British made further progress
northwest Of ST. Quentin taking NAL
assise Farm, opposite lie Catelet. Fur
ther gains were made also in the
Lenptre- -Epehy sector, the British adj
Vancing there more than a mile
The Associated Press correspondent
with the French army in France says
The progress of Gen. Mangin's army
toward the Chemln dcs Danes has
driven the enemy to violent reactions.
Five vigorous counter attacks were
made last night against the new
| French positions north of Allemant.
In every one of these unsuccessful az
saults the Germans lost heavily
French Hold All Their Gains.
The French troops have stoutly
maintained all gains made In this
region during the last few days, and
in spite OF intense artillery fire have
succeeded in organizing their new
positions. There is now only about
three quarters OF a mile of ground
separating the French from the height
on which stands the ruins of Fort
I Malmaison
II is most difficult ground, however,
and excellently adapted TO the KIND OF
defensive fighting the Germans are car
| rying on. II is heavily tmbercd and
the broken ground. deep ravines and
steep slopes make It impossible for
tanks, but furnish the best possible posi-
tions for machine guns, which tho enemy
has assembled in great numbers.
II is the plateau OF Chavignon the
Germans are defending here so des-
pecate.y More than 430 of their dead
Were picked up over a space hair
mile long by quarter OF mile deep
during the recent fghting The posses
sion of this plateau, which is the key
to the positions north of the Chemin
dss Danes, would compel the enemy 10
abandon a part Of the IT. Goham forest.
There can be no hurry in carrying
out the immense task Gen. Mangns
men have before them, but they already
have pressed on much too closely to
their goal to permit the Germans TO
remain indefinitely on the defensive,
Heavy Losses Near 81. Quentin.
German casualties in the battle for 81.
| Quentin have been most heavy owing to
the close character Of the fighting and
the sturdy resistance of the Teutons.
The villages OF Holnon and Lempire
| have been entirely cleared Of small
pockets of Germans. North Of st. Helene
| the Australians pushed on. The Ger
mans We're not disposed to come to grips
! and only six were made prisoner
In addition to the eighteen enemy divi-
sions engaged on Wednesday between
| Gouzeaucourt and the Somme prisoners
have been taken from AT least two
/ further divisions OF the reserve. one
| Of these divisions was Withdrawn from
! Gouzeaucourt only week ago after
losing 900 in prisoners. The Other
was withdrawn from Nesle on Septem-
ber after losing 500. Neither Of these
units has been retitted or rested
/ An Underground Gibraltar.
| The Associated Press correspondent