Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-09-04
BEAR Down UPON .
HUN KEY POSITIONS
Operations by the French armies held the CEN
ter of the war stage today. The French war Of
flee reported notable gains along the Canal du

and between the Aisne
and Ailette rivers, chief
ly northeast Of Scissors.
French troops along the Vesle river
where Americans have been fighting,
having suddenly launched a new at
tack The war office reported that
detachments have crossed the river
at several points. This may mean
a wide German retreat is beginning
in that sector. For some time it has
been reported that the Germans were
on the verge of falling back from the
Vesle to the Aisne river and possibly
beyond,
The German line along the Vesle
mas been seriously endangered by the
Frenchand American successes north
Of SCISSORS.
French troops have smashed their
way to the western outskirts of Coucy.
le Chateau and Jumencourt. 1t is in
this sector that the Germans have
fought the hardest to stop the French
advance.
Crack German divisions have been
hurled into the affray in efforts to
turn the tide.
1t is entirely likely now that the
French armies can force a big rolling
up movement of the German line
along the Vesle. Many critics assert
that the Germans will not be able
to stand at the Aisne river as general
ly expected. q
In the north Field Marshal Haig re.
ported that the might was chiefly
marked by local operations. The Brit
ish have generally reached the line
along the Canal du North, but a dis
patch from the London office OF the
| international News Service this af-
ternoon reported British troops across
the canal at point north OF Peronne.
The Germans are now fighting rear
guard actions all along the Canal du
! Nord, in an effort to cover the re.
treat of their main forces. Dispatches
from the front tell of the burning of
supplies by the Germans. The Brit
ism are keeping right on the heels of
the enemy and giving him no rest.
In the Flanders sector British troops
continue to forge ahead. The have
occupied three more towns and are
steadily advancing their lines.
Italian Army Scores Hit.
Washington, Sept, Am attack on
the Fransenfest railway junction
which Is of great strategis Importance.
has been carried out by an escadrille
OF the fastest Italian airpanes. says
an official dispatch 10 the Italian EN-.
bdasy this afternoon. The avia.or5
dropped sixteen bombs, and despite
the intense fire from antiair craft
batteries the observers Photographed
the results, which appeared satsfac-
tory the cable states,
BolsheViki Desert.
Washington, Sept, 4,-The Czecho-
Sloyak forces in Russia are being
augmented by the desertions to them
from the Bolsheviki it was reported
to the state department today by
Ambassador Francis under date of
Murmansk August 26. The general
situation along the Murman coast IL
satisfactory from the allied stand.
point
In Sight Of Cambria.
With the British Army in France
Sept 4 (l0 a. III. British forces are
within six miles of the German base
= Of Doua andare within sight of Cam
brai
= The Sensee canal locks have been
reached and Lecluse has been taken
$4,000 prisonrs were captured by
III British in Two days.
|. Take Three Towns.
LONDON, Sept. 4-Inchy yen.Artois
Demicourt and Hermies to the wes
Of Cambra have been captured by the
British troops, who are driving Oh
Ypres it was learned here today
The Wrong Bank.