The sun., 1918-09-12
British Advance Further in
Effort to Flank st. Quen-
tin From North.
REGAIN LOST OUTPOST
French Increase Hold on st.
GObain Massif and Now
Menace LaOn.
LA FERE NEARLY IN GRASP
Continued Rains Turn Battle
Fields Into Quagmircs and
Make Progress Difficult.
Special Cable Despatch 10 THE sJN.
Copyright. 1918: oil rights reserrtd.

Copyright 1918: all rights reserrtd.
PARIS. Sept. l1.-Therc is confident
belief in France. expressed almost
unanimously by the lending authors
ties, that there is little danger that
Gen. Ludendorff will be allowed to
buttress himself for any length Of
time against the Allies offensive In
his present positions. AS 1t is put
by rHomnte Librc. tho newspaper
owned by Premier Clemenceau:
"Our enemies are little out Of
breath owing to the tune which AIar-
shal Foch has set for them since
July 1S, but they need hope for no
respite during the coming autumn
and winter. They thought TO outdis-
tance us by their speed in the spring
before the arrival of the bulk of the
American army, but they have been
beaten in the race"
Counter Attacks Lack Energy.
Confidence Is universally expressed
in the ability of the Allies command
to prevent the Germans from going to
earth again. as they did after tho first
battle OF the Marine. There is little
doubt Of tho enemys intention to try
to hold up the Allies advance some
where in the neishborhood Of the old
Hindenburg line. now badly broken in
many places, but 1t Is not believed that
the Germans will be able to ho,d here.
| While the German resistance has in
creased somewhat it is noteworthy
that even now when the enemy,s po-
sition seems TO require a strong reac-
! ton the German counter attacks are
not delivered with the energy and
promptness that formerly character
ized them. The apparent pause in the
Allies advance is due much more to
the very bad weather OF the last few
days than to the German counter at
tacks
! Three such counter attacks made last
! night and to-day against points on tho
British front were repulsed. apparently
with little difficulty, and In one case by
machine gun fire. These were near
Gouzeaucourt and Epehy. in the middle
sector, near Moeuvres. which is east OF
Queant. and at i1court-St. Quentin. north
| OF tho ArrasCambrai road In the
! Gouzeaucourt fight the German report
asserts that 400 prisoners We're taken.
They took one outpost, but lost it again
TO the British In a very short time.
French Repulsc Six Attacks.
| II is noteworthy that despite the heavy
handicap OF the weather and the OBJ
structlon OF the Germans the British ad-
vanced to-day in the middle district be-
tween Epehy and Ncrmand. In the proc-
ess of encircling 81. Quentin. In
the south, on the trench sector.
the German resistance has been
| quite stir for several weeks and
! Is no SITTER now than Il was. De-
spite this. the French to-day captured
the village Of Travecy, taking another
bite out of the southern end of the Hin
| denburg line. and in the same general
region. according to the night report, re-
pulsed without difficulty six German
| counter attacks.
This new gain Of tho French marks
a point where their progress has be-
come menace to L.aon. to the east. al
| they already threaten the western end
OF the German position on tine Chemin
! des Danes La Fere is raCtlcaly
closed in now the French are only two
miles out and their guns command all
the approaches to the place. Progress
was made also in the development Of
the ST. Gobain massif
Country n Sea of Mud.
No great attack can be expected un-
der such weather conditions as have
prevailed for several days. All the
lowlands are quagmires and the whole
| country IL a sea OF mud over which
transport of all kinds is exceedingly dif-
fcult, but 1t is believed here that with
the return of good weather and the dry
ing Of the ground. Marshal Foch viii
resume his drive with increased in
tensity
That the Germans think so also is
indicated by the way in which they nre
feverishly preparing improvised defences.
especially at the southern end OF the line
and around ST. Quentin. particularly
along the lines of the canals and rails
ways.
Kept Guessing by Foch.
Aviation observers report that the rails
way facilities have been doubled in these
districts, immense sidings have been
built and great quantities OF munitions
and stores have been brought up. Where
as eight weeks ago the great question
. was where would Gen. l.udendor1 strike
next. to-day We have the sorry spectacle
of the Germans groping alOns an in-
mense battlefield speculatng where Mar
shal Fochs new blow Will be delivered.
In the Aisne sector where the Amer
: leans are operating alongside Of ths
French fighting OF a desultory kind II
4 ~ ala