Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-09-18
Hammers Germans Without
>Letup Since Beginning
of Offensive.
NIBBLING TACTICS
New UNDER WAY
Feeling Out Process Being Carried on
Preliminary to Striking New Blow in
Force-British Make Gains North Of
St. Quentin and Are Nearing Out
skirts Of City - French Break Up
German Counter Attacks.

the allies struck the western TANKS
of the German forces in the Marine
salient. At the time that General
Mansin hurled the Americans and
French in that section against tho
enemy the move was believed but
a counter offensive and that Mar
shall Foeh had seized upon an op-
portunity to strike blow that
might defeat the German effort to
capture Rheims and perhaps to
~drive the German wedge nearer to
Paris.
Viewed in the light Of events
that have since transpired the at
tacks against tho Germans on July
IS were really the first step in
mastery campaign which has not
only wrested the initiative from
tho Germans hut has forced them
back ,along the line from Ypres to
Rheims to virtually the line where
they stood before their mishtiest
drive begun on March q.
With the exception Of narrow
strips Of ground in the Flanders
sector from east Of Bapaume to
the ST. Gobain forest and along the
Aisnc from VauxailIon and Rheims
the German. success Of the spring
and, early summer has been iiuuid-
atcd. In addition y the Germans
have lost vital positions before
.Arras and have been forced to re-
treat from the st. Mihiel salient,
which for years stood like an arrow
pointed at the heart Of eastern
France.
American, British and French
forces have been earryina out sue
cessfuI "nibblins" operations along
the line during the past day and
have won local tactical successes
at several points. The history OF
Foch would appear to Indicate that
the allies will not hesitate long
before striking new blow some
where along the front.
: Field Marshal Haiq has begun a
closer Investment Of ST. Quentin.
His troops are attacking northwest
Of tho city with the evident inten-
tion Of outflanking Il or the north.
These ne.v operations follow tho
British capture Of Hclnon village
on hiah around, three miles north
west Of ST. Quentin, Tuesday night.
hoInon is on hill as is Masseny,
captured late Saturday. These hill
positions dominate the terrain
north Of St. Quentin ard the road
connecting the city with cambrai.
From these favorable dumping of"
points tho British are moving in
toward tho city.
Full details Of the operations are
still lacking. The Germans here
arc on or n.ar the Hindenburs po-
sitions and captured documents
show tho enemy troops have been
ordered 10 maintain their positions.
To tho north the Germans are
using their big guns actively
against the British. Tuesday oven.
ina the Germans attacked Moeu.
vers and pressed the British to the
western outskirts. Evidently the
enemy 10 determined to hold bis
limo between the Searpe and the
Disc.
South Of Metz the Germans have
attempted to strike back at the
!. Americans, but tho American ar
tiIlery smothered the enemy effort
and the Germans were driven back
with losses. The enemy did not
follow up tho repulse with any fur
ther movement toward tho Amor.
lean line.
In northern Russia the boIshevik
forces have been defeated by the
: allies, who are advancing south Of
Arehanqsl. In the south Il !. rs.
ported from kiev the boIshoviki
have been successful in = number
Of combats against tho cxscho-
Siovak armies in the voIsa region
and along the Black sea. Littoral
in the government Of Kuban.
Burning towns along the Mosslle
river are considered Ns evidence
that tho Germ ans are preparing a
further retirement in the Lorraine
sector. Il 10 said an elaborate sys-
tenn Of defensives 10 ready to re-
ceivs the German armies which
will defend Metz.
London. Sept. 17.-British forces at
acked this morning northwest of s
Quentin, according to an official re
,ort by Field Marshal Haig.