The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-09-12

| tions taken up by the Germans were
strong ones. however, and there Is on
record no previous organized attempt
to reduce this menacing bulge point
! ing at the heart of France between
the fortresses of Verdun and Nancy.
The German command now will
have, it appears, another problem to
meet in dealing with the outbreak of
+, it's foe in another and comparatively
! distant quarter from that in which the
bulk of the fighting has been done in
this years campaign. The question
, will be, it seems. whether the reduced
German man power has left General
Ludendorff with forces sufficient to
maintain his front from Rheims to
Ypres and at the same time beat back
a powerful thrust by the allies far to
the southeast on the battle front.
The Hindenburg line itself already
has not proved too strong for either
the French or the British at some
points in the recent fighting.
German Statement.
British forces have effected a cross
ing of the Canal Du Nord to the north
west of the town Of Havrincourt, Field
Marshal Haig announced in his official
report today. The canal line here
formed the main defense of Cambria
on the southwest
British forces attacking the German
lines on the Flanders front near Ar
mentieres and the Canal of Labassee
yesterday were repulsed according to
today's announcement from army
! headquarters. British attacks along
the Canal Du Nord line between Mar
quion and Havrincourt likewise failed,
the statement says.
Enemy Slowly Pushed Back.
With the occupation Of Travecy and
the heights dominating the country
to the south, General Petain's forces
have outflanked the important Ger
man position at LaFere. This advance
by the French over a narrow front OF
only two miles presages the evacua
tion of LaFere by the Germans and
general weakening Of their lines be-
fore the vital stronghold Of ST. Co.
balm forest.
Slowly the allies are pushing the
enemy back on his HindenEurg line
defenses from LaFere to ST. Quentin.
slight advances being made by both
the French and British armies fight
ing in this area. The French have
taken and passed Hinacourt and re-
tanned their hold on Essigny-Le-Grand,
four miles south of ST. Quentin by re-
pulsing enemy attacks. The British
in their drive for St. Quentin have
reached Nermand, about six miles east
of the Hindenburg line going through
Cambria. which with st. Quentin form
the central pivots of the German de-
fenses between LaFere and Ypres.
Counter attacks launched by the Ger
mans In an effort to prevent the Brit
ish from driving wedge between
Cambrai and St. Quentin, were re-
pulsed near Gouzeacourt. Unfavor-
able fighting weather has served as an
aid to the enemy, but despite the rain
and the sitter resistance of the foe
Field Marshal Haig's men continue to
make progress towards the linden
burg line.
Artillery Action Continues
Artillery activity continues in the
St. Gobain sector and also between the
Aisne and the Vesle where the Ger
mans are making valiant effort to re-
tain possession of the ST. Gobaln and
Chemin Des Danes strongholGs and
prevent the allies from forcing them
to fall back all along their line east
of Rheims. In the region of Laffaux
and in the Aisne area enemy attempts
to approach new French positions
were repulsed, the Germans losing $50
prisoners.
In Flanders the British have ad-
vanced their lines northwest of HUI |
luch and made progress west of Arm
entieres, which the Germans took |,
from them last spring. In the Havrin- |
court wood sector the enemy artillery |
Is active. At Gouzeaucourt the British |
have re-established their line after re- |
pulsing the Germans who gained a |
foothold in one of the most bitter |
local engagements since the rapid |
drive was halted by bad weather con-
diticns several days ago. |