The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-09-03
british TROOPS
. CUT S|X-M|LE CASH
ALONG W0TAN line
Old Hindenburg Path
Remains Now But a
Mere Memory.
LENS is ENTERED
F rench Plough Eastward
in Nesle Region and
With Yanks Make
Progress. !.
LENS is ENTERED

bon0op. sept. Z.-f rACtN2k1x
the whole of the ''Wotan line,
the Hindenburg line switch be-
tween Drocourt and Queant, built
by the best brains in the German
engineering world. equipped with
all the ingenious devices of TWEEN
tieth century technique. is tonight
in tho hands OF the British.
English and Canadian troops
ripped six-mile cash into Il
early this morning and spent the
rest of tho day breaking the Gcr-
man hold on what remained of 1t.
BY nightfall the British stood It
some points four miles beyond
this formidable line. whicr ever
since the grs/t 1917 retreat has
been a taunt and a challenge to
the allies. Tho pivots- Queant and
DroCourt. nre sttf1 TN German
hands and the Tentons are main
tanning precarious hold Oh
shreds OF the northern end OF tia
line. bat this is crumbling fast.
Dury and Cagnicourt. two and y
four miles beyond the switch linz
respectively. were captured, and
IN the way 70 CaRnAcourt the O.
nadians cleaned mp vilefs-Leo-s
Cagnicourt. the fall Of which. u.
gether with the British break into
the Wotan line, was exclusively
announced in these dispatches
last night
The British. according to Latest
official word from Field Marslna1
Haig. have passed tho German
dcfcnses on the line EterpaGnyrs:
Riencourt -villers Les CaxnicO1rt-
They are advancing on QueanA
Norcun, northeast OF Bapaumc. -
in their possession.
Lens Is Penetrated.
Next to this important str1tee1
success. the chief event OF the d.
was the penetration by British troop
into the outskirts OF Lens. reporte
by Haig tonight The town lies 1
the heart of Frances black coun
try" one of the RICHES. coal region
in Europe. The Germans are slowl
clearing out or it. and complete &C
cupation of Lens is expected to be an
aaHneed before tomorrow night.
Several thousand prisonera,
Haig's statement tonight Gays,
were taken In today's British ad-
vance. Substantial Roadway wAs
made also by the British ard
Americans in Flanders, thou4h
tho night report gives NO details
of the new advance there.
(Note-A detailed story 0f
American participation in the
British Flanders advance w1a
given In exclusive Universal Ser.
vice dispatches Sunday mighty.
Violent fighting ragged all day alcn
The twenty-three-m mile line between II
scarpe and the Somn1e. The Gern12A
hit back with fury. but their counter
.hrusts broke down with the eKcep
ton OF one or two that resulted 4
heir retaking, for a short while, com
few positions.
Allah, Are Taken.
All Are Taken.
Villers Sur -Flos. lie TranslCy. th44
and a half miles northeast tof ID
uaurue. the blood -soa ked st Pf6E1
Vast wood and Allaines and Haul
Allines. northeast of Peronne. M weF
~ E77sg1
Meanwhile the French were pl0ue1I
ing eastward in the Nesle rogios
There. too the Germans courtae-Al
tackled with desperate fury and NJ
ceeded in retaking Hill IT. Buff
onight the French had regainex U
footing. on the heights imnedt4654
vest of this hill. and its recapture
4 matter of a short time.
Along the southern end Of the 14
mile attacking front which x0s
reaches from Ypres down to the mort
Of Scissors, the French and AmsricaA
made new important local gains. Thu,
captured Leuilly. slightly to the -
# Crecy- Au- Mont, and Terny Sorry
'urther southeast, thus deepening IA
wedge threatening both Coucy-Lo
Chateau land through 1t Laon). "a
the Chemin Des DANES. North 4
-rouy. just northeast Of Scisarn1
progress was also made
the British army tia
opened the great Picardy drive. nos
directs the British operations Il
Flanders In which Americans are tai
ing a prominent part
The sky OF Flanders 10 abla3e. III
retreating enemy burning numerou
between Warneton ana AZ
sss
The British smashed eight GerxaA'
divisions in piercing Drocourt- QuaaA
line
British patrols have reached III
Canal Du Nord In the direction =
Cambria Tanks and airplanes axe n
tremeiy active Prisoner Ara stream
Ing in by the thousands Maok
them are very young and Aungxys
nrst thing they ask tor r. -