The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-09-06
FRENCH TAKE
so VILLAGES
ALONG AILETTE
Make important Advance Along
Canal Du Nord and North
of the VesIe.
ENEMY IS FIRING TOWNS
Retreat Is Marked by Path Of Flames
British Make Further Progress
Along Their Front North and
South Of Peronne.

Paris, Sept. 6.-The French troops
made an important advance along the
Canal du Nord and north of the
Vesle, according to the war Office re-
port. Thirty villages were taken
along the Ailette.
British Make New Gains.
London, Sept. 6. - The British
have made further progress along
their front north and south of Pc
rome, according to Field Marshal
Haig's report. British patrols have
been able to cross to the east bank
Of the Canal du Nord, south Of Mar
quion.
Huns Forced to Flee.
With the British Army in France,
Sept. 6-The effects Of the recent
British successes are hourly becoming
more apparent. The enemy Is steadily
but surely going back. Successive mi
nor victories in Flanders, the applica-
ton of sustained pressure In the battle
zone south of the Scarpe, the exploita-
-tion Of the advances north Of PerOnne,
and the steady bombardment from the
eral movement.
: The foes retirement is being marked
by the usual destruction, for fires and
explosions are reported from various
sections, especially the area in front
of the Hlndenburg line from the Ba-
paume-C -CaHhrai HE stouthward, where
the torch seems to- have been freely
used.
Where Line Runs.
The war office statement sketches
only in bare outline the advance. Just
south Of Peronne, where the French
link up with the British, the former
troops swept across the Somme river
over f1ve-mile front, and occupied
Falvy and Offy.
Southwark of here General Foch's
men fought their way forward, east OF
Nesle, until the roads running from
Ham TO the north and south almost
are in reach.
The line then runs to Berlancourt
and turns southeastward across the
Noyon ridge, running to Guivry-Caul-
loeul- Crepigny, north Of Marest Damp
court, to Abbecourt On the map the
advance over this difficult terrain
shows penetration Of nearly FIVE
miles, judged from the positions held
yesterday.
Enemy Is Exhausted.
Of the operations somewhat east
and south Of here the war Office sflys:
"Along the whole Ailette front the
enemy, exhausted by the hard fighting
since the twentieth, began about three
O'Clock In the afternoon to give way
before our troops. Pursuing the Ger
man rearguard our troops made rapid
progress North of the Ailette, Pier
remande and Autrevflle are in our pos
session as we'll as the lower part Of the
forest of Coucy.
To the east Of here the French 0c-
cupfed not only Coucy lie Chateau but
Coucy lie VILE to the north as well.
1t IS at this point that the enemy was
driven back to about a kflometer south
of Fresnes, west Of which the Him
denburg line runs.
From this area the new French line
swings southeast Of scissors until 1t
strikes at FIT. Conde on the Aisne river.
Here the line turns eastward along
the south bank Of the Afsne to Reims.
The war office statement declares
also that the French are within less
than half q mile Of Fresnes, which Is
to the east of the old Hindenburg line,
where 1t runs from La Fere southeast
ward to the west flank Of the Chenin
des Danes. Thus it appears that the
French, under General Mangin, have
at least reached, II they have not
crossed, this famous defense line here
in the south, while to the north the
British are we'll over some sections Of
it.