Evening star., 1918-07-20
Capture 1900 Prisoners.

prisoners and more than $50 guns,
captured by the allies, according to
the war Office announcement tonight
All day the battle ragged violently.
The French have held their positions
or the plateaus southwest of Sois-
sons and have made important ad-
vances at various points. The state
ment reads:
THE battle begun yesterday be-
tween the Aisne and the Marne con-
the enemy reacting along the whole
line with large reserves in an attempt
to stay our progress. Despite his ef-
forts. we cont tinued our advance over
the greater part of the front
"On the left we maintained the
plateaux southwest of Soissons and
in the region of Chaudun. In the cen
ter our advance exceeded three kilo-
meters at certain points along the
line Of vaux-Castille. yillers-Helon
our troops occupied, after bitter fight
ing. the plateau northwest OF Bonnes
and the height north of Courchamps
and advanced beyond Torcy.
THE number Of prisoners counted up
to the present exceeds 1900. including
We have captured more than $50 can
non. including one battery of 210s.
Twenty German Aeros Downed.
'Aviation-Yesterday our airmen in
collaboration with British squadrons
continued their work along the whole
battle front. Twenty German ma
chimes were drought down or put out
of commission by our pilots, and two
captive balloons were burned. The
British airmen destroyed seven Ger
man machines.
"Our bombing groups continued
their expeditions against the crossings
of the Marne. A foot bridge west of
Reuil was bombed and demolished.
Cantonments and troop concentrations
at Oulchy-le-Chateau. in the Vaux-
in the region Of Gully, were attacked
with machine guns or bombs, the
troops being dispersed. Stations In
the rear areas were sprink1ed with
projectiles. Fires broke out In the
stations at Ami Fontaine and Ffsmes.
Heavy explosions were observed at
Pontavert. Twenty-Five tons of bombs
were also utilized in the day. and
twenty-one the following night.
British sQuadrons dropped two tons
and half Of explosives with excellent
results"
belgian communications. Our artil-
lery shelled the enemy's communities
Staden. Bomb fighting took place
near Df1mude. There were patrol en-
counters east of Nieuport, and an
enemy accommodating party endeavor-
ing to occupy one Of our posts north
Of Nieuport was repulsed.
British Advance Line.
LONDON, July 2o.-British troops
last night advanced their line on a
mile front south of the town Of He
buterne, the war office announced to-
day.
A successful raid was carried ont by
the British near Beaumont-HameL
(Hebuterne is about midway on the
front between Albert and Arras.
Beaumont Hamel Is ~ miles south OF
Hebuterne.)
AS the result OF yesterdays opera
ton on the Flanders front the British
line was advanced along q breadth of
1000 yards in the Meteren sector. The
buildings southwest of the village,
known as Le Walton. are now held by
the British troops. Tho prisoners
taken aggregate 436. -
Yesterdays Operations.
LONDON, July 1s.-The text Of the
night statement reads:
"By successful minor operation
carried out by us this morning in the
BaiIleul sector. Scottish troops cap
tured the village Of Meteren. gaining
all their detectives and taking over
800 prisoners, with q number Of ma
chine gyms.
sUnder cover of this operation,
Australian troops pushed their line
forward short distance south of
Meteren and captured over 80 prison
ers and ten machine guns.
I'VE also secured a few prisoners
during the day In raids and patrol en-
counters in the sNieppe forest sector.
Gain Observation Ground.
BY the Associated Press.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE, July 19.-The. German high
command VIII not be pleased with the
ueEar rthxtxhes3E cap<nEe6 AIEA1u.