Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-09-21
ALLIES CLOSE IN
UPON ST. QUENTIN

main and support Hindenburg line
and is the most difficult obstacle
which the British have encountered
anywhere in the defensive system.
The enemy regards it as the key to
the position north of Havrincourt.
Few prisoners were taken. In ad-
dition to the guns already reported
captured, the British have taken
two 4-inch howitzers abandoned by
the Germans Thursday and two field
guns left behind yesterday after
noon.
Stiff Resistance Overcome.
The occupation of the series of
redoubts around the MalaiSsise farm
was accomplished in the face OF
stiff resistance. This throws the
British line nearer the St. Quentin
canal at Vendhuille. On the battle
front between Villers- Guislain and
the defenses of St. Quentin only
three fortified villages remain in
German hands on this. side of the
Hindenburg system. These villages
the Nillers- Guislain, Pontruet and
Fayet. The enemy is still defend
ing some small copses and farms
which welded into the outlying por-
tons of his main line of resistance,
The English troops which took
Ronssoy, with more than 900
prisoners, completed the clearance
of Lempiree, a neighboring village
mile to the north The Germans,
wedged in ravines and fragments of
old bitches and quarries between
Lempire and Villers- Guislain, still
hold fairly strong positions beyond
the limits set for the British adj
vance, but they have not attempted
any elaborate Counter-attack since
the complete breakdown Of their big
assault Thursday night.
The British line covering Gauche
wood was completely restored after
a local attempt to regain the eastern
face of the wood.
Enemy Losses Heavy.
Fresh prisoners taken during the
night state that the German losses
since Thursday have been extreme
ly heavy, especially between Gouz-
eaucourt and Moeuvres, the dead
lying in masses in some places
Three hundred bodies were counted
in one small section of trenches
taken by the English infantry.
The enemy's troubles are intensi-
fed by the necessity of moving near
ly all his troops across the canal
on bridges. He is restricting these
movements to certain bridges he is
maintaining, but which are kept I'M
DER constant artillery fire. The back
areas of the canal are being ranged
to dealy accuracy, as for the first
time complete observation is Sc
cured over wide stretch of country
between the canal and St. Quentin
The high roads and the railway
lines now can be shelled without de-
pending upon the airplanes for reg
istration.
The German batteries were un-
usually quiet today. after main
tanning a vigorous bombardment
through the earlier part of the bat
tie. According to prisoners, the
guns were shifted back when it be-
came clear to the high command
that the three ridges west of the
Hindenburg main defense had been
lost. The loss of so guns, the ma
jority of which had been pushed
forward west of the canal with I'M
usual daring. undoubtedly acceler-
ated this precautionary movement.
French Garry Essigny.
Paris, Sept. 20.-In the enveloping
of St. Quentin from the south the
French have carried Essigny lie
Grand, says the war office statement
today.
The Germans during the night
made strong attacks against the
new French positions north of Allie
mant. between the Ailette and the
Aisne. The enemy was repulsed
with very heavy losses.
The French have gained further
ground northeast of Vailly, in the
direction of Chemin DIES Danes.
A German attempt to cross the
Vesle, where American troops are
in the line. was repulsed.
With the French Army in
France. Sept 20.-(Reuter's with
logged tenacity and unhagging de-
votion the French troops are fight
ing their way, foot by foot, across
the Malmaison plateau. which is
thu l.a,r "a tha Chn,,,in DeS Dnrnes