Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-20
iIANGIN'S ARMY VICTORIOUS
To NORTH OF SOiSSONS
tBv Associated Press. |

WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN
FRANCE, Wednesday. September IS
General ManSins army attacked along
the front north OF scissors to-day and
plateau just east OF Sancy and just
south OF the point where the Chemin-
dcs-Damcs branches off from the road
leading from scissors 10 Laon.
\ strong coounterattack led BY
grenadicrs of the Prussian Guard. was
rcpulsed by the French, who drove the
enemy back Of the road leading from
The plateau Of Ange Ciardenc to the
Colonies farm. This road is less than
DANES.
This success puts the French in pos
session Of part OF the important
plateau OF Anee Gardiene which com
mands the ridge along which runs the
famous ladies way" for a consid-
cradle distance. 1t also drives deeper
the wedge south Of the IIindenburg
positions in the ST. Gobain region, and
facilitates operations in the direction
OF Pinon. which was held by the French
until the German offensive late in
May.
The hghting in this region has been
most severe during the last few days
glimpse of the action around the
Colonies farm. obtained from IL point
giving d view OF the Chemin -des- Danes
and Fort Malnaison. as Well as the
plateau 10 the south. on which the
farm Is situated. gave an idea of the
tremendous task General Mangin's
men have undertaken. The soldiers
could he seen bounding from shell hole
20 she'll hole and from trench TO trench.
From the great distance between them
and the observer, the only means OF
DISTINGUISHING the fighting forces was
that the French were advancinC east
ward and northward upon the mass Of
ruins that marks the location of the
Colonies farm
FRENCH S0JnIEng GHnNy
SPLENDID INITIATIVE
The splendid qualities Of individual
initiative Of the French soldiers found
ample opportunity in this advance, and
the French again demonstrated their
mastery over the enemy. For the dis
tant observer il looked like battle
hetween individuals. Rarely were
there more than two men seen above
ground at the same time. What was
most III evidence was the line Of ar
Ni!ery curtain fire. which was plainly
marked by columns Of smoke which
outlines the battle field
livery one oil those men advanced in
INC race OF machine guns clcv"rly CON
cs"led and strongly protected. They
went on. just The same conuucrinr by
( thcir courage and individual intelli-
I sencc. The csrthworks of the Hin.
dehburg line arc stronger than any
thing OF this Kind hitherto construct.
ed. out the soldiers behind them have
not tho same fighting spirit .o-day
that the hay year or even six r,ocths
ago
Prisoners now are complaining thu,
they are frequently left in the from
line 10 SHIFT for themselves. Rar"i,
90 their officers stand by them vine,
they are attacked, they say.
IL often happens that machinc-guI
crews are ordered To- hold position:
an discover sometime afterward lha
inc troops behind them have abandono,
inc hcld. They attribute the conceal
mcnt from them OF the Infantry re
treat 10 the fear Of their officers tina
they misht be tempted to abandon thci,
posts II they knew that they were I,
DC sacrificed.
GERMAN PRISONER WANTS
ISLANDER On L. y. RE;EUTI;I
Iitv Associated Prcssl
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMy n,