The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-13
FOCH ARMIES TAKE
2 TOWNS; 500 men


been. greatly improved and a small
salient which had been left in the line
after Tuesdays attack has been elimi-
mated.
Yesterdays operation was a case Of
being able to seize an opportunity when
II was presented. AT one point four Aus
tralians ventured across No Mans Land
and by quick assault on the enemy .
defence line captured between thirty and
forty prisoners
8 A consiaerab BILE body of British troops
was sent forward to exploit the victory.
The British line was pushed forward
without much opposition and more than
$50 prisoners. with a number Of machine
guns. had been captured UP to to-day.
This morning the operations were still
being continued at various points. and
one strong position was captured
southwest OF Merrs For some time
the British in this sector have had
complete control of No Mans Land
and the Germans hardly have dared to
show their heads.
Prisoners say that the discipline of
their troops In this zone is not up to
the mark. Recently some older men OF
the Fourth Bavarian Division refused
point blank TO go into the line again
when the order was issued by Prince
Franz Of Bavaria. 1t appears that the
Prince previously had made them dis
gruntled by several severe lectures be-
cause they had allowed the British to
capture 80 many prisoners.
German guns and bombing airplanes
have not harassed the city of Amiens,
one of the detectives in the German drive
OF March II. since June rs. Previous to
that and during the fighting along the
Somme the bombardment Of the city had
been SO heavy that the civilian popula-
ton had been removed.
The British fighting forces in France
now aggregate two million men. says
the Havas correspondent on the British
front This equals the number on the
front in 1917.
OncinI Statements.
Following are the official statements
on the fighting:
FRENCH tNIGHT--Our troops
this morning launched brilliant at
tack on front OF FIVE kilometers
(three miles) between Castel and
north OF Maiily-Ra ineval. All OF our
objectives were reached and we have
occupied the village OF Castel, the
Anchin Farm and a number of strong
~ fortified enemy positions. French
troops have penetrated the enemy lines
n quarter miles) and have taken more
than 500 prisoners.
FRENCH DAO-Our troops con-
tinued their progress north OF Cha
vigny Farm and east Of Fayerolles
Last night our troops occupied the vii
lage of Longpont aid the Javage
Farm.
Two raids. one north of Montdldler
and the other In Champagne. resulted
in the capture Of fifteen prisoners.
The German artillery was rather
active on the left bank Of the Meuse
Verdun region).
tempted by the enemy this morning in
the neighborhood OF BucQuoy. south
west OF Arras. was driven off with loss
TO the enemy.
Except for some hostile artillery
activity In the Hinges sector and at
other points. there is nothing further
to report from the British front
BRITISH (DAN-In the successful
minor enterprise taken by US yeste--
day southwest OF Merris we captured
more than 100 prisoners and ten ma
chine guns.
A raid attempted by the enemy YES
terday south Of Bucquoy was repulsed.
We carried out a successful raid
| during the afternoon northeast of
| Merris.
During the night Welsh troops
raided the German trenches In the
vicinity of Hamel and captured six
! teen prisoners and machine gun. in
addition to destroying many dugouts
and infiicting casualties on the enemy.
Successful raids were carried by us
also near Meteren. Further prisoners
were taken by our troops in these en-
| gagements and also in patrol encoun-
ters In the neighhorhood OF GavreIe
and In the KENNEL sector.
|. GERMAN tNIGHT-There were
! local engagements to-day southwest of
Bailleul and on the western bank of
| the Avre.
GERMAN CDAY)-On the battle
front the artillery activity revived yes
terday evening and Increased during
| the night to violent surprise attacks
| on battle positions and regions behind
| the front
Southwest OF Ypres and Bsilleul and
| Uorth OF Albert strong thrusUs and
frequent reconnoissances launched by
the enemy were repulsed.
| Between the Aissne and the Marne
the activity on the part OF the French
continued lively. We captured pris-
oners in fore field engagements at the
forest of Nillers Cotterets
In the regioN of Rheims we drove
back enemy reconnoitring thrusts.