The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-21
ENEMY 0UTFOUGHT
ON PICARDY FRONT
His Counter Attack Against
MOeuvres Failed to Divert
st. Quentin Drive.
ANXIETY PLAINLY SHOWN
In Defending Cambria Ger
mans Have Permitted LOdg-
ment In Sector to South.
BY II. sIDEBOTHAM.

One Of the Foremost Military Critics In
Europe
Special Cable Despatch to THr Srs from tao
London Times Ssrrice.
Copyright. 1918: oil rohn rsssSvsd.
LONDON. Sept 2O.-The anronology OF
events on the western front Is not easy
to piece together. and gratifying as Is
the substance OF the dispatches Of Field
Marshal Haig they leave something TO
be desired In the way of lucidity. The
facts seem to be that the British and
German attacks we're going on at the
same time, the Germans attacking in the
Cambria sector north OF Gouzeaucourt
and the British on the ST. Quentin sec
tor 10 the south. the two overlapping
between Gauche Wood and Iempire.
The German attack opened OH Tues
day night by Il successful advance
against Moeuvres, where they thrust US
back In the western edge Of the village.
(Moeuvres is this side OF the Canal du
Nord.) This mQgement was meant to
be the prelude to a strong attack on the
Cambrai sector ana was supplied with
great weight of artillery.
Early next morning. Wednesday. came
the British attack further down the
line, south of Gouzeaucourt, and the
German plans were thrown into confu-
sion. Should they go on with their plan
OF attack IN the Cambria sector or d.
vert troops to resist the British attack
further south? They do not seem to
have recovered from their confusion
until midday, when they decided to 80
on with their original plan.
Held Up British Left.
Inward s o'clock they delivered a vio-
lent counter attack on the sector north
OF Trescault thinking this the best de-
fence against our attack toward St
Quentin. The diversion OF troops In the
morning from the Cambria offensive
seems to have had the effect of holding
UP the left of our attack. At any rate
our left. after capturing Gauche Wood,
near Gouzeaucourt. seems to have lost
1t again and did not recover II until late
In the afternoon.
There seems to have been heavy
fighting also toward Epehy Lcmpire,
southeast Of that place, twice has been
reported captuC ID, Clearly, unless the
curate, II must have been captured
early on Wednesday morning. lost again
and recaptured on Wednesday after
! noon.
But whatever temporary success the
enemy may have won in this middle
| section Of the battle 'front.' his attack in
the north went to pieces completely. II
reached our lines north of Moeseres, but
the German infantry that effected a
Judgment In our trenches was counter
attacked Immediately and cut to pieces
or taken prisoners
How the Centre Advanced.
Meanwhile our centre. held up tenn
porarily by the enemy's counter attacks
continued it's advance far into the night
Immediately west and northwest OF St
Quentin We still are a little short OF
| our previous furthest east, but to the
north. where the Canal du Nord and the
Hindenburg line make a great loop "a
the east, We are further forward than
we had been before. and at Blllicourt
further Uo,th stu, the Australians are
| in possession OF the heights through
| which the Canal du Nord has been tun.
| nelled for distance of four miles
Here. at any rate the Germans have nc
water front.
The most gratifying fact in the battle
| Wednesday Is the unmistakable evil
| dence that the Germans were out
mannuvred. So far all that has beer
| done IL to drive in the outposts OF the
Hindenburg line, bur another such de.
| feat would break the line and already
| We have effected Judgment In some
points. The enemy's attacks at Moeu.
| vres show how nervous he was about the
situation on his Cambria front We have
| given him now similar cause for anXiet,
| in regard TO his ST. Quentin front.
Evacuation Of Baku.
The evacuation of Baku by the Brit
ish contingents is a disappointment
more so as the blame Is placed upon the
! Armenian forces. II was recognized
from the first that our chances of hold.
ing this important place depended en-
| tirely on the cordial cooperation OF the
local troops. which unfortunately doe,
| not seem to have been obtained. The
| Armenians have been tried sorely. both
by massacre and political cajolery un
| I'll more is known of the facts they
should not be judged harshly.
| The country Armerians are capita
| lighters. as was shown early In the wal
at Sariakmish the Russian Genera Il
had the highest opinion OF their mill
/ tary quality. The town Armenisns, Tx,
1 the town Arabs, are less promising ma
! he, tai: In timn they might have made &
| serviceable army, hut there was no tim,
| for training. We cannot afford to LOSE
any OF our friends in the East snd II I,
| desirable that the case OF the Armenian
should not be preJudiced by what ma!