Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-12

Paris. July 12-The village of
IOngpOnt on the SuNiereS river,
east Of Niliers CotterctS. has
been captured by the French.
saTs the official statement from
the war Office today.
The French also continued
their progress north OF Cha
Tigny farm and east OF EaYer-
olieS. Javage i8rm, northeast
Of Favcr0iles, also was Occu-
pied.
In raids north Of Moutdidier and
n Champagne, the French captured
I5 prisoners. The official text
reads
Our troops continued their prog
ress north of Chavigny farm and
east Of FayeTolIes Last night our
troops occupied the village Of Long
Qort and the Jayage farm.
Two raids. one north of Mont
didier. and the other in Champagne,
resulted in the capture OF Is pris-
oBers.
The German artillery was active
on the LEFT bank OF the Meuse Yer
dun TegiOnl.'
British Make Raids.
London, July Further raid
ing operations were carried out by
British troops last night, notably
il the Flanders area. near Nerris
and 5ieteren. the war Office an
aouucef today. Prisoners were
taken in patrol encounter in the
Eem-e- sector OH this front.
Another British party raided the
German lines near Hamel. south Of
the Somme A patrol clash in the
neigh6orhood Of GavrelIe, northeast
Of Arras, also resulted in the tax
ing Of prisoners.
Take 1870 Prisoners.
II their operation in the vicinity
Of Nerris, The British took 120 pris-
oners.
The statement reads:
In the successful minor enter
PRISE taken by US yesterday south
vest 0t tIerris. We captured more
than I2G prisoners and 10 machine
guns.
"A raid attempted by the enemy
yesterday south Of BucqUOy was
VepuIsed.
We carried out q successful raid
during the afternoon northeast Of
Nerris.
During the night. Welsh troops
raidei the German trenches in the
vicinity Of Hamel and captured -
prisoners and a machine gun in ad-
diti0n 70 destroying many dugouts
and infiiCtiug casualties on the en-
emy. Successful raids were carried
out by US also near Meteren Fur
ther prisoners were taken by our
troops in these engagements and
patrol encounters near GavTeIle in
the KENNEL sector"
General Petain is giving the Ger
mans on the westerly side Of the
Marne salient little rest in their
positions east Of the forest of VII
iers-COtterets. Last night his
troops again drove in on this front
and made substantial progress
The most tangible result reported
from this latest fighting is the cap
ture Of the village Of Longpont, to
the outskirts OF which the French
mad pushed in their advance on
Wednesday night. A farm in this
neighbOrHOod also was taken.
The French lines were likewise
driven ahead in the Chavigny farm,
north Of L1ngp0rt. A forward push
also was given the line south OF
Longpont east Of FaverOlles.
Prelude to Big Smash!
The series OF operations carried
Out by General Petaln on this front
during the present week has been
generally regarded as Of merely 10
ca -a-p.,l-a-Ce, designed 10
strajgAtel The line and fortify it
against the expected renewal Of the
6erman offensive. The possibility
IS not overlooked. however, that
tnese may be prelude to more
important attacks.
The time has not been considered
opportuue for General Foch, the al
ned commander in chief 10 abandon
lis defensive role and turn to the
aggressive on a large scale, but ii is
Aot impossible that the feeling out
operations which are IN progress on
10th the French and British fronts
nave other than a purely defensive
purpose.