The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
ALLIES ADVANCE
ON ST. QUENTIN
British and French Make Gains
in Assaults and Take
1900 Prisoners.
CANAIrIS MAIN OBJECTIVE
Underground Gap in Water
way Desperately Defended
Berlin Claims Success.

LONDON SEPT "a In new urlVe
against st. Quentin from the west TO-
day the British. cooperating with the
French on their right. attacked on
front OF four miles southwark from the
Omignon River. which rises north OF
st. Quentin and flows In a westerly d.
rection 10 the somme, Joining the larger
stream about five miles south of Pc
rome. They had taken 500 prisoners
and were making good progress accord
ing TO the report of Field Marshal HaiS
tonight.
Vigorous resistance was encountered
in places. particularly in the vicinity or
Selency. There was also stiff lighting
northeast OF Epehy, with the advantage
altogether with the British. The Ger
mans attacked last night the new Brit
ish positions southeast OF Gavrelle, but
were unable to make any impression
Southeast OF Voormezeele. in Flanders,
the British improved their position.
Paris reports marked artillery activ-
ity last night In the region about St
Quentin and between the Ailette and the
Aisne. There were successful raids by
the French in the Champagne district.
Three villages were taken By the
French in this operation. according 10
the night report from Paris. with more
than 500 prisoners and a large number
Of machine guns.
Germans Claim success.
Berlin asserts that on the front be-
tween Csmhrai and st. quentin the Ger
mans have retaken. trench. sectors at
two points and captured some prisoners.
The Associated Press correspondent
with the British army in France. de-
scri5ing the operation west OF ST. Quen-
tin. says that al o'clock this afternoon
the attack was meeting with great sue
cess.
on the right the French appeared to
have possession OF L'Epine de Dallon,
southwest OF st. Quentin, strong po-
sition known as Round Hill 10 the west
of the threatened city. and the hamlet
of FranCilly- Selency. while 10 the north
the British had seized the high ground
west of Fayet and cleared the woods
east of Fresnoy OF the enemy and had
stormed their way through Pontruet.
This place lies only three-qusrters OF
a mile from the bend in the st. Quentin
| Canal, which forms vital part Of the
German bulwarks. 1t was around Pont-
ruet that the British captured many
hundreds of prisoners.
Fighting was proceeding this after
noon along the ridge between pontruet
and Grlcourt.
Press Vital Point ON Canal.
Much interest attaches also to the
| Epehy -Ronssoy sector, where the Brit
ish since Saturday have by determined
fighting gained ground which is OF the
greatest importance and which captured
documents show to he a vital part OF the
German defences that was to be held at
all costs.
The pressure which the British have
established here Is very heavy. The
great 81. Quentin Canal forms a strong
natural defence for the enemy for a
great distance In this section, but just
| east OF Ronssoy 1t runs underground for
! about three miles. In other words. there
is a gap in the waterway defence here,
and 1t is this which the Germans have
| been defending so desperately.
In front OF the canal along this gap
| the line has been made especially strong
! to protect the possible gateway. The
British divisions which have been doing
such magnificent work tere have In
front of them as opponents not only the
famous German Alpine Corps hut four
more fresh divisions which the enemy
has thrown in
With this force OF enemy troops es-
, pecially hard fighting occurred Just east
OF Ronssoy in quadrilateral system OF
, trenches. which the British captured
The Germans attacked here continu-
ously and heavily. but on each occasion
/ they were repulsed with very severe
losses.