Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-09-18
st. Quentin, St. GObain and La
Fere Under Shell Fire.
HUNS FAIL TO HALT FRENCH
Gen. Mangin's Troops Advance Beyond
Hainecourt Despite Enemy's Strong
Resistance-British Fighting
Around Ephey and Gouz-
eacourt.

local operations have further al
vanced their line north of Epehy and
in the neighborhoOd of Vermand, west
of St Quentin, according TO Field Mar
shall Haig's communication, issued
here.
The allies are slowly and constantly
driving at the Hindenburg line.
The Germans at various places have
counter-attacked in great strength, but
except for forcing back one or two adj
vanced posts they have regained moth
ing.
One of the critical points is La Fere,
which, battlefront dispatches say, the
French have outfianked from the north.
The village of Travecy, two miles due
north of La Fere, has been occupied
by the French, Notwithstanding strong
resistance, and the fall of La Fere is
expected hourly.
Open Way to Laon.
La Fere is the chief point of defense
on the north of the st. GObain massif,
the mightiest pillar of the central Hin
denburg line, and if it is taken, the
vance on LaOn to the northeast.
The French not only have Travercy,
but also have taken parts of the road
leading from La Fere to st. Quentin.
Thus far they have been able to beat
off all the heavy cOunter-assaults
launched by the enemy.
Yanks RepuIse Foe.
fln
French and Americans have worked
their way to the western end of the
Chemin des Danes, which defends
LaOn from the south and east, the Ger
mans have cOunter-attacked furiouSly,
attempting to regain the dominating
ridges which they have lost, and which,
in the possession of the allies, almost
make their Chemin DIES Danes posi-
lions untenable.
Foe Suffers Heavy Losses.
In this fighting around LaffeuX, the
enemy has suffered appalling casual
ties to no purpose, for the French and
Americans are constantly, if slowly,
pushing eastward.
On the eastern edge of HavrincOurt
wood, it is announced that the British
are in their old trenches facing the
Hindenburg line.
French Push Ahead.
Paris. Sept. 11.-Between the Somme
and the Disc the French have adj
vanced beyond HainecOurt, despite
strong enemy resistance, according to
the war Office announcement.
Three StronghoIds Under Fire.
London. Sept. list. Quentin, La
Fere and the town of st. Gobain, To-
Gated on the wooded massif of the
same name, three vital points in the
enemy's great defense system, all are
under intense shell fire and in peril of
capture
Regardless of stormy weather, the
British, and particularly the French,
In the last "a hours have fought slow
ly ahead under increasing German re-
distance.
There have been repeated counter
attacks all along this region, but none
has served to stop the advance of the
allies. These reactions were especial
the western flank of the Chemin des
Danes.
British Fighting at Epehy.
The war office reports that there has
been local fighting around Epehy and
Gouzancourt, in the direction of which
the British have been forging ahead.
Further south the French have con-
tinued their progress. driving still near
er to st. Quentin and to La Fere, a
key position on the north to the st.
GObain forest and south and west of
there.
French Three Miles From ST. Quentin.
General Humbert's troops are now
hardly more than three miles from
the outskirts of ST. Quentin, having
taken Hill 103, a point to the south
west of the city.
Troops of the same army have taken
Ia Rouge farm, less than two miles
from the edge of La Fere.
General Mangin's army meanwhile
has pushed into the forest itself from
the west side and now is only two
miles from the town of ST Gobain a
nerve center of the forest defenses.
Huns Afraid of U. S. Negroes.
With the American Army in France,
Sept. 11.-There was considerable pa
troll activity in the Nosges district
One encounter took place, the enemy
retiring with one wounded man. Negro
+roops have occupied one Vosges vii
lage in which French civilians were
held prisoners. The Frenchmen, Oh
coming through to the American lines
declared that the Germans We're con-
siderably excited at finding themselves
opposed by negroes, of whom they are
said to be afraid because of reports
that the American colored troops cut
off the ears of their prisoners.
Strong Counter-Attacks.
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