Arizona republican., 1918-11-02
ATTACK HUN ID
 D|SL0DGE HIM
 FROM ARG0NNE
Americans and British
 Strike First Blow Of Battle To Drive Enemy
 From Natural Fortress

HEADQUARTERS OF FOURTH FRENCH ARMY, Nov. 1, 2 P. M.-(By the Associated Press) ).-General Gour- aud's army attacked this morning on a front of five or six miles between the Aisne and the Argonne in con- junction with the first American army on his right The immediate objective of the French commander in this re- zion is to clear the enemy out Of the thickly wooded and much broken mas sif of the Argonne, the last natural fortress which remains to him until he reaches the Ardennes.
 Ever since September 27 the Ger mans have clung to the Argonne Tn spite of the unremitting endeaYors or the French army on the west and the Americans on the east of the forest. After a series of extremely difficult and hotly contested operations, General Gouraud has succeeded in establishing himself on the left bank of the Alsne between the villages of Terron and Falaise, a distance of about five miles.
 One of Difficulty.
 With the river at their backs and little more than a mile from the Ger man trenches between them and the forest, the operations was one of con- | spent in throwing bridges across the Aisne in preparation for the passage of an important force with its material. The enemy knew that the attack was coming, but seems to have been un- aware that it would extend as far north as it did and he left the bridgemakers almost undisturbed.
 Aisne Is Crossed.
 The attack began shortly before 6 o'clock after a whirlWind artillery preparation of 30 minutes. The Ger mans had not acted wisely in leaving the bridging troops unmolested. The Aisne was crossed opposite the village of Voncq and this important position was occupied soon after o'clock. The loop of the Aisne opposite Semuy, which was held by the enemy and formed a salient in the allied line pro- tected by the winding course of the river, was carried. Billy -Aux-O Dies then was captured and the French troops pressed up the river bank opposite Semuy.
 By the middle of the morning Gen eral Gourauds men had largely occu- pied their first line of objectives in spite of an energetic and increasing resistance on the part of the enemy.
 
 is situated on lofty spur overlooking the river and was the most important position on the front of attack. was carried with a considerable bag of prisoners.
 First Day Success.
 Possession of Voncq enabled the Germans to observe the whole Aisne valley as far south as Vouziers, and gave them wide views up and down the river. Farther south, hill 193 on the left bank has been captured. Falaise has been occupied and the line is making satisfactory progress in the teeth of a stiffening artillery fire.
 The enemy's omission toMrovide for an attack north of TerTn, which marks the limit of Gourauds holdings on the left bank of the Aisne. seems to have assured the success of the first day of the new operation.
 The attack of General Gourauds army must be taken in conjunction with the American attack on a much l larger scale which is progressing in the most encouraging fashion on the other side of the Argonne. Last night as has previously been stated. Gouraud held narrow strip about five miles long on the left bank of the Aisne marked by the villages of Terron Vandy and Falaise.
 Americans to Right.
 South of Falaise his line passed by | Olizy through the Argonne to Grand Pre- on the eastern edge of the forest At Grand Pre- Gouraud is in touch with the American army on his right. North of Grand Pre- the enemy's flank is protected by an impenetrahle labyrinth of wooded hills and ravines the Bois De Bas and the Forest De Boul, which it is in the interest oi both the French and American armies to turn. General Gourauds front ot attack is directed northeast; that oi ] the Americans is directed straight 1 north.
 i It is clear that as Gouraud's army advances northeast across the Argonne in the direction of Le Chesne, while the Americans progress northward that the mass of the Boult forest and the Bois De Bas will be turned by the French from the northwest and the Americans from the east and must be | evacuated by the enemy.
 Then Way to Be Clear. The future operations toward Me zieres and the German lines of com munication with Germany seem to de- l pend largely on the success of the battle launched today on both sides ol the Argonne. When the enemy has been evicted from the woods aS. ravines of the great forest and the French and American armies have joined hands beyond it, the way to the north will be clear.
 TAKE 172,659 HUNS