The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-09-07
French Armies Advance.

French Armies Advance.
1t was beyond the Disc, however,
that General Petain's force made their
most important gains. General Man.
gins army has the difficult task before
it here where the Germans are es-
tablished in the extensive forests OF
ST. Gobain, the key point of their de-
fensive system. The French have al
ready pushed through the outlying
lower forests of Couchy. however, and
by taking Barisis have begun to press
in upon st. Gobain itself.
At points along this front the French
apparently have reached around be-
yond the formar--German defensive
line. The official statement from Par
Is shows them on the edges OF the
upper forests of Coucy, also part OF
the St. Gobain bastion defending Laon,
and they are unofficially reported to
have pushed into big stretch OF en-
tirely new ground in this area.
British troops today advanced to
the east Of Longavesnes and Liera-
mont. in the region northeast or Pc
rome. Field Marshal Haig crossed
the Murly-Fis road.
Advance Toward lys.
The British are we'll to the east OF
Hancourt and are more than nine
miles to the east of the river Somme.
Along the Colgne river Tincourt has
been reached.
In the Lys salient, the British
north of Erquinghem are pushing for
ward to the western bank of the hiver
Lys. The British have advanced
north of Hill 63 to Lerossignol.
British progress on practically the
whole battle front from Havrincourt
wood to the river Aisne continued this
morning with rather greater rapidlty
than had been expected.
German Statement.
On the height northeast OF F1smes'
In the Vesle river region the German
forces yesterday repulsed renewed at
tacks by the Americans, says the Of
fetal statement issued today by the
German army headquarters.
On the Somme and Disc rivers the
enemy followed the German retiring
army by way of Ham and Chauny and
during the evening was engaged In
fighting the German rear guard OF the
line of Aubigny-Villequier-
On the Aisne river to the west or
Vailly. the statement Says the Ger
mans are in fighting contact with
the enemy.
ON the Aisne the French have taken
the Conde fort aud Conde Sur Aisne.
whence their movement threatens the
Germans who are still cline!ng to the
river to the east along the front held
ty the Americans. Thus 1t seems that
there can hardly be more than mo-
mentary halt by the enemy here and
the reparts from the American front
indicate that the allied lines already
are moving ahead. particularly to the
east. toward Rheims. where a move
ment is In progress to force the Ger
mans cut Of the angle south Of the
Aisne where they are yet holding.
In Flanders the British have gained
further ground driving In further TO-
ward the Messines ridge in the vicin- |
itv of the town of Messines. and edg |
ing eastward further south toward |
LaPassee.
As whole through the campaign In |
augurated by Marshal Foch. July IS, |
and in particular through the Franco .
British drive during August, the Ger !
mans stroke of March 21. now has |
been virtually cancelled. The Ger !
mans have been pushed from all the |
territory they conquesed by the great |
offensive they opened on that day ex-
cept for morrow strip between La I
Fere and Cambria.
Along his old line the enemy now
is facing an allied force that is under
a unified command and that, instead |
OF somewhat anxiously awaiting
powerful German stroke it is on the !
aggressive and powerfully reinforced
by the imposing mass of American
forces that have been transported to
France since early spring.
Enemy in hasty Flight.
Haste marks the flight of the Ger.
mans all along the battle front in
france from the River AIsne to the