Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-10
ENEMY |SSTR|V|NG
TO SLOW UP ALLIES
Counter Attacks Delivered,
But Foch's Men Keep Up
Steady Gains.
GERMANS SEEK RESPITE
By the Associated Press

By the Associated Press
LONDON, September 9.-The battle
on the western front is entering a
new phase. The enemy at last is
making a serious stand just short
of the series of positions commonly
called the Hindenburg line-positions
which, however. already have been
bitten into by the British from the
Sensee to Moeuvres and touched by
the French in the ST.. Gobain region
at Bervais and Bassoles-Auers.
The Germans are doubling their
rear guards and seeking by counter
attacks to slow up, if they cannot
stop outright, the encroaching tide OF
the allies. Their efforts have been
in vain. Notwithstanding the new
measures adopted. in checking the
advance of the French and the Brit
ish. for both pushed forward yester-
day in the direction of st. Quentin.
The French made such progress
across the Crozat canal that the enemy
no longer can hope to defend it.
Gen Humbert's center is at the
gates of La Fere and Gen. Mangin' S
left is beginning to creep around the
ST. Gobain forest by the west, while
his right beat off the enemys attacks
by which the Germans sought to
swing to the ,Aisne front. More of
such attacksare probab BILE, but Gen.
Mangin will know how to deal with
them They are local affairs and a
more serious effort is not likely to
be made.
Gen. Ludendorff is working for the
respite which he must have il he is
to sort out his disorganized divisions
and try to whip up some sort OIL
strategic reserve. This respite ne
hopes his shortened front Will give
&c, al
aware, however, whether the enemy
is sufficiently weakened and de-
moralized to be smashed in at some
part of the present battle front or
whether a stroke elsewhere would be
advisable. thus giving rest to the
armies that have fought so lndefatlgaoly
for the past two months.
Reacts More Violently.
By the Associated Press.
PARIS. September with the al
lies Immediately before or approach
ing the Hindenburg line. the enemy is
beginning to react more violently
with his artillery. Nevertheless, the
French are pushing ahead IN the
region where the line has not yet
been attained and, according to the
latest information, were a little more
than five miles from st. Quentin, their
guns following the infantry up speed
lily The Germans evidently intend to
defend st. Quentin theoretically and
are fighting in the approaches to the
town, besides regrouping their forces
and concentrating numerous divisions
in its protection. The capture OF the
place. however. is declared by the
commentators to be the intention OF
the French command.
Strengthening Defenses.
The Germans are likewise hurriedly
strengthening their defenses around
Laon. according to La Liberte In
are reported installing thick barbed
wire. digging deep trenches and ac-
cumulating munitions of all sorts. as
if for a lengthy defense. in the great
underground storage places of the
north of the Ailette from the vicin-
itv of the LaonSoissons railway is a
mass Of guns which the enemy has
emplaced, the reports declare. while
of $50 and 10 milimeter pieces are
concentrated.
On Virtually the entire front from
east of Arras to the west of Rheims
the German artillery, the Intran-
sigeant commentator declares. is
pounding away as it has not done for
several weeks. Nevertheless. he in
sists that the general situation re-
mains excellent for the allies. al
though more desperate resistance by
the enemy must be expected.
On the British front the advance. it
is pointed out. has entirely freed
Amiens from gunfire. the only attacks
on this base line being by airplanes.
The bases of Arras and Hazebrouck.
however, are still under long range
gun fire. Advices received here indi-
cate that the region around the rail-
way station at Lens is occupied by
the British. The advices also predict
that the fall of Armentieres, may be
expected before long.