Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-09-14
AMERICANS TAKE 70
TOWNS; 10000 HUNS
Progressing Rapidly Toward Metz,
Sweeping All Foe From
Their Path
~ A..ncia..d rre.s n rverr Er~rins


London. sent H. q. m. French
troops began a new attack al dawn this
morning on both sides 0f the Aiiette
river and between the river Aisne and the
Vesle river
South Of the siIctte river. The French
| captured Mont Desiages and the villages
Of Alemont and Sancy.
f The attack Of the French forces in the
direction of the Forest Of Coury at the
southern end Of the south Gobain massh
i was progressing satisfactorily this morn
ing
The German counter attacks against
the Frenchmen advancing on the Ailettc
river front appeared 10 have been weak,
although the front line was strongly
/ held. The German prisoners say they
had orders to hold n all costs
The French have reached the edge of
the town Of Vaiily on the Aisne.
Germans Set Back Miles.
The French advanced for = distance of
between one and two miles on an eleven
mile front.
The attack was launched by the British
NJ 4 O'Clock this morning. One division
in nm hour had taken 500 prisoners,
making a total Of ! 400 Germans cap
tured on that front alone.
the French also made satisfactory progress
and captured prisoners. The advance
of the French threatens TO turn the flank
Of the German defensive positions on the
Chemin des Danes, and IL also endangers
Laon.
americans Take 20 Towns.
The Americans have taken 20 towns
and more than 800 600 prisoners Is re-
port received from the Lorraine front NJ
clock this afternoon, when General
Pershings men were reported to be
progressing satisfactorily on the ~.
AiihieI sector.
In addition 10 the 10000 Germans
capturcd by the Americans in ~. Nihiei
salient, more prisoners are coming in.
The inside of the pocket has not yet been
cleared and il j. expected more guns will
be taken.
Field Marshal Haig's forces have
occupied Auchy -leg-L La Basse in Lys sec
tor says todays British war office state
ment
Several attempts made by the GER
mans TO recover their former positions at
C.ouzeauc0urt and HayrIncOurt we're un-
successful.
Haig's Troops Advancing
A
Yesterday. in the district northwest Of
st. Quentin, the British line has been
established east Of the villages Of Hesbe-
court and JeancOurt.
During the night a strong bombing
and liquid fire attack was made on the
British positions northwest OF GOuzeau-
court This attack temporarily forced
British advanced post to withdraw but
the Germans were beaten OF.
The British forces captured more than
800 Germans when they took the towns
of Frescourt and HavrincOurt on Thurs
day.
The maximum depth Of the new po-
sitions taken by the American forces in
the ST. Mihiel sector is l3 miles from the
former line.
Associated Press Summary o. N.
The Americans are continuing there
advance after eliminating the st. Nllhlel
salient From Pagny across the Noselle
river from German territory, the new
front extends m almost a straight llne
to- the 11cIntv OF Nationwide, where Il
advances slightly toward the northwest
to Frcsno~ THIS reduction IF the front
line from some 80 10 - niles places at
the disposal of the allied commanders an
enormous force 81 men lor future opera
Having accomplished the task Of w1p-
inc out the salient, the offensive move
mcnt continues 70 push forward, and the
further strengthening Of the line Is prob
able The Americans at this stage OF the
drive command positions favorable for
direct invasion of German territory If
such a course should be decided on Al
though the important German fortress
Of Metz IS in no immediate danger, its
OUTLYING fOrtlticauons are wlthln range Of
American heavy guns nj Pagny
AiRMEN BOMB MErz
Metz itself furnishes an excellent target
for allied aIrmen, who already have taken
advantage OF the opportunity and dropped
MANY bombs on railway stations and
military stores IN the city ana ylcnIty.
With IT'S strong outcr protection Of torti-
fcabcns a frontal attack on Metz could
hardly be expected, bu' an nUtiaullng
! movement by the Americans on the west
or by the French and Americans from the
south would force the Germans TO evacu-
;.tc both the fortress and the territory
surrounding u.
In their haste to get out Of the salient
with as little loss Of men and military
supplies as possible the Germans left the
railroad from Nerdun To Commercy. TOul
and Nancy virtually intact The capture
Of this line Of railway adds greatly TO
the facility Of troops movements towards
Verdun, which has been a great handicap
to the Allies in the past.
AMERicANs CAPTURE 80 VILLAGES
In the first few hours Of their operation
rs distinct unit, the Americans have
driven the enemy ont Of some thirty
villages, many strongly fortified positions
prepared during the four years Of their
occupation of the salient and captured
Continued on page q