The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-10
French Enlarge Footing in
st. GObain Forest Despite
Strong Resistance.
MORE MEN OVER AlSNE
British in Heavy Storm Get
Nearer Cambrai on Four
Mile Front.
ENEMY NEAR EXHAUSTION
All Available Reserves of Men
and Artillery Are Being
Massed on Front.
ENEMY NEAR EXHAUSTION

LONDON. Sept. o. \ greatly
strengthened German resistance IL
serving TO retard the allied advance
against the Hndenburg line, al
though at no place has the progress
of the French, British and Americans
been brought to u stop.
In the north the British forces
under Field Marshal IIalg have
edged closer TO Cambria, on the
southwest, having captured many i'm
portant positions between Havrin-
court Wood and Piezierc, four mile \
front. Along this line the British
are now in trenches from which they
fought year ago. Gouzeaucourt
Wood is in their hands and the town
of that name is dominated by their
guns.
Still further north, east of .\rmen-
there's, the Germans are making
particularly strong effort to stop the
British advance new Bavarian regi-
ments hitherto unidentified in recent
fighting having been thrown in. Ger.
man artillery is also very active here.
but Field Marshal Hais has made no
effort recently to press his advance
here. evidently figuring the cost
against the strengthened resistance
would be moro Than the ground IS
worth.
French ~
Further south the French continue
their pressure against ST. Quentin and
La Fere and both of those towns ap-
parently are doomed to capture as
soon as allied movements on other
parts OF the line are sufficiently de-
Neloped. The French are hourly en-
larging their turning movement
against the st. Gohain forest, which
is the buttress to the whole Of the
German defensive positions in France,
ana latest dispatches from the battle
front indicate that everywhere the
French are meeting with SUCCESS in
this enterprise.
German artillery in the ST. Gobain
foiest and beyond is laundering dav
fnd night i'll a desperate effort to
save this great stronghold In addi-
tion, thousands of machine guns have
been planted all through the woods
and hills. Against these, however.
Gen. Mnngin is throwing his own
shells. All along the battle front. from
the forest eastward to the plateau
rortheastward froN Scissors the big
guns OF the Germans are having their
inning.
increased Resistance on Aisne.
Along the Asne the German big gu.
are also busy against the French and
Americans The German inrantrymen
north OF the Aisnc have been reinforced.
thus accounting for the increased resist
ance encountered by the French in their
er0rts to cross the Aisuc In spite Of
these reenforcements, however, tho
French are crossing the river.
The German high command appar-
emily is engaged just now in strengthen
ing the three great hinges OF their line
in France. In the neighborhood OF
Rheims, northeast Of Scissors and in
Flanders great artillery concentrations
have been made by the enemy. The
Germans realize that m allied break
through f: any one of these points
would be disastrous If not fatal to them.
hence they are taking every precaution
within their power 10 make these sec
tions OF their line impregnable
strong stand on Soi.sOns Plateau.
In the Soissors ncighborhood tae
enemy has brought up all available cam
non, and in addition thousands of ma
chine guns have been placed in position.
Apparently the enemy forces are pre-
pairing to stand here to the death
There is no indication. as yet, that
Marshal FOCh has the slightest intention
of letting 90 OF the offensive All along
the line from Tpres TO Rheims the allied
pressure continues. The Gcneralssimo
evidently has made up his mind that il
isn't now 80 much question Of men
and guns as il IL a question OF spirit
of will 70 win Day and night ms ~
keeping the allied forces pounding the
nerve wrecked Germans. and that tbs
policy Ia bearing fruit Is indicated by
documents captured from the Germans.
including army orders signed by hien
commanding officers, and simple letters
written by prisoners. In all there is thA
same evidence OF dsorganization ard
| dsheartenment.
OF the old Hindenhurg line, less than
thirty miles remain untouched by allied
! guns, and this stretch Is daily being eL
| croached upon by the French, British
and Americans. At no place are TIM
| allied soldiers more than SIX miles away.
Back Of the enemy lines II Is clear
| that Ludendor1 and HindenburH ara
| striving with every resource at the.r
| command 10 gain the rest which they
must have, and soon, IL they hope To
| remain In France. Their forces aye
! disorganized and exhausted, and the.r