Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-06
COUNTRY SOUTH
OF A|SNE RIVER
CLEAR OF HUNS
French, With Help of u. S.
Soldiers, Pursue Germans
North of Stream. .
ADVANCE SIX MILES
TO SOUTHERN BANK
British Capture Ploegsteert, in
Flanders, and Repulse Strong
Counterattacks.
..sh.
MAKE PROGRESS NEAR PERoNNE
Teutons Violently Bombard Frapelle,
in Lorraine, Held by Per-
shing's Forces. 4ss
MAKE PROGRESS NEAR PERoNNE
tBy Associated Pre.s.l

The French and Americans are fart
driving the Germans out of their posi-
tions in Southern Picardy and in the
sector between the Vesle and Aisne
Rivers. SO rapid has been the progress
of the allies-the French in Picardy
and the Americans and French from
scissors eastward toward Rheims, that
the retirement of the enemy has tho
appearance Of the beginning almostvo
rout
Meanwhile Field Marshal Haig, in
the north. from Pcronne to Ypres, has
been almost as buslly engaged with
his troops in carrying out SUCCESSFUL
maneuvers which arc only in a slightly
less degree of rapidity, forcing the
Germans everywhere to give ground.
Haig's men again have made the Ger
mans taste bitter defeat on numerous
for them seems not Yet in sight. .
In the latest fighting In the region
extending from the old Noyon sector
to SoisSons, the French have reclaimed
thirty villages from the Germans: have
crossed the Sommc Canal at several
distance from the important Junction
Of Ham. with its roads leading to ST.
Quentin and, La Fere. On the south
The Ailette River. and are fast slsirtinZ
the great wooded region which acts
as barrier to direct attack on Laon.
Aisne defenses of the enemy. Seem
this barrier Shortly will have beea
overcome and, indeed the entire salient
northwest OF Soissons obliterated.
Already the French south OF E'resnes.
on the fringe Of the high forest OF
Coucy, have penetrated the old HindenS
burg line.
All behind the lines northeast -of
seen; particularly around Jussy and
La Fere, which apparently indicates
that the Germans intend to fan back
as fast as they can TO the old German
lines running southeastward from ST
Quentin
The French and Americans are hard
River and the Aisne. and for moretthan
eight miles, extending from Conde to
Hiel-Arcy. they have driven the enemy
the southern bank Of the river.
GERMANS HOLD FIRMLY
IN REGION OF RHEIMS
Eastward toward Rheims, almost up
to the gates of the cathedral city, tho
German line is falling back northward.
At the anchor-point OF the line ni,the
vicinity OF Rheims, however, the Ger
realizing that a retrograde movement
here would necessitate Strengthening
of their line perhaps as far eastward
In the initial maneuver along tho
vesle front. the Americans and French
captured both Bazoches and Fismette,
northward to ,Vel-Arey. while !, from
Eismette they, have penetrated more
than three miles northward to Bar
bonval. which Is only little moro
than ,,nh, mile south Of the Aisne. =,
the town of Ploegsteert and positions
southwest of MeSsines and northeast
OF Wulverghem and repulsed strong
counterattacks launched against them.
BRITISH MAKE GAINS
IN DIRECTION OF CAMBRAI
Southeast of Arras. all the way down
the line to the south of the Somma
below Peronne, the British have dug
more deeply into the enemy's front
on various sectors, especially toward
Cambrai and Immediately north and
south of Peronne, In the latter region
having driven In the enemy's tear
guards for considerable distances. SO
The Germans have been violently
hombardinE the Americans at Frapeiis.
on the eastern end Of the battle front
infantry attacks; More than 5000
shells. many of them gas projectiies.
have been sent into the American lines
by the enemy