Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-09-15
French Launch Offensive
Along Bend in Line Around
Laon and Make Gains of
One to Two Miles,
ST. MIHlEL SALIENT
is BEING CLEANED UP
Gen, PerShing'S Troops Report
the Capture of 10000
PriSonerSi Interest Turns to
AiIette-AiSne Front,
UNDATED War Lead for Early Editions
by the Associated Press.)


by the Associated PresS.)
Marshal Foch pursuing his policy
of giving the Germans never a min
ute's rest followed up the incsive
stroke of the Americans. which wiped
out the st. Mihiel salient in two days'
time by launching an offensive Satur-
day morning on the French front
along the bend around Laon.
The blow took immediate effect on
the German lines, pushing them back
from one to two miles at points in
this important sector, where it is well
nigh vital for the Germans to hold
fast If they hope to retain control of
any considerable part OF northern
France during the coming winter
Meanwhile the process of cleaning
up the ST. Mihiel salient was being
continued by General Pershing's
troops, who, so far, are reported to
have effected the capture of more
than 10000 Germans as the result of
the clean-cut drive of the Ameriscan
first army.
Germans Retreating.
There were indications in the re-
ports from the front that the Ameri-
can success might have done some
line about the former St Mihiel bend.
for the Germans were said to be re-
tirihg near Chatillon. along front
five or six miles to the northwest of
the former westerly lip of the salient
They were probably forced to this in
the readjustment Of their line to meet
the altered conditions.
With the lessening of the tension
on the st. Mihiel front, interest is CEN
tered at present in the French assault
on the Aillette-Asne front. General
Petain's troops here were gaining
ground where every yard extremely
valuable, as the German positions
along the Aisne and the Vesle to the
east have been under increasing threat
for some time by the French advance
on their left flank. The advance will
not have to be pressed much furathet
before a German retreat on a wide
front in this sector will he compelled.
BY driving in sharply in his present
move, Marshal Foch probably intends
10 make untenable even the ChemlnI
deS Danes the former German hold
ing ground north of the Aisne He
has made marked progress already in
this by taking Mont des Singes, south
of the Aillette. IT Is but n short dis.
tance thence to the AniZy-Pinon line.
the capture of which by Petain last
fall compelled the German crown
prince to fall back from the CheminI
des DANES to the Aillette line to the
north.
French Make Progress.
The French progress here likewise
represents a renewal of the drive att
the st. Gobain massif. and therefore
at the citadel of Laon which that has
ton defends Moving directly into the
massif further north, above the ALL
lette, the French are reported to he
progressing satisfactorily. Along the
Aisne the advance has taken the
French some further distance to-
wards the east, and they were early
reported to have reached Vailly. on
the north bank of the Aisne. pushing
the Germans back from the river as
thev advanced.
The British front has held intact
against series OF German assaults
in what appears to be q fit of des-
peration over the inroads made in
the defenses of Cambrai bv Field Mar
shall Haig's forces in their recent
progress. The British successfully
beat off several such attacks at Hav-
rincourt and Gouzeaucourt. holding
their valuable positions on the high
ground in this sector,