New-York tribune., 1918-09-21

E Il
mass Of trenches and dugouts cover
ing square mile of ground. 1t is the
Junction of the main and supporting
/ Hlndenburg line and is the most difficult
obstacle which the British have en-
countered anywhere in that defensive
system. The enemy regards it as the
| key to the position north of Havrin-
/ court.
Few prisoners were taken. In addi-
ton to the guns already reported
captured, the British have taken two
4-inch howitzers abandoned by the
! Germans on Thursday and two field
guns left behind yesterday afternoon
Fresh prisoners taken during the
night state that the German losses
! since Thursday have been extremely
heavy, especially between Gouzea-
court and Moeuvres. The dead are
! lying IN masses in some places. Three
hundred bodies were counted in one
small section of trenches taken by the
English infantry
The enemy's troubles are intensified
by the necessity of moving nearly all
his troops across the canal on bridges.
He is restricting these movements TO
certain bridges he is maintaining, but
which are kept under constant artillery
ire. The back areas east of the canal
are now being ranged to a deadly ac-
ouracy. as for the first time complete
observation is secured over a wide
stretch of country between the canal
and st. Quentin. The highroads and
the railway lines can be shelled with
out depending upon the airplanes for
registration
The German batteries were un-
usually quiet to-day. after maintaining
a vigorous Eombardment through the
earlier part Of the battle. According
to prisoners, the guns were shifted
back, when it became clear to the high
command that the three ridges west Of
the lllndenburg main defense had been
i lost. The loss of sixty guns. the
majority of which had been pushed for
ward west of the canal with unusual
daring, undoubtedly accelerated this
precautionary movement
(By The associated PrtssD
WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN
FRANCE Sept 20-The progress of
General Mangin's army toward the
western extremity of the Chemn- des-
DANES has driven the enemy to violent
reactions. Five vigorous counter atr
tacks were made last night against the
new French positions east of the
NOISY Farm and north of Alemant In
every one of these unsuccessful as
saults the Germans lost heavily.
The French troops have stoutly
maintained all gains made in this re-
gion in the last few days, and. in spite
OF intense artillery fire, have succeeded
IN organizing their new positions.
here rs now only about threo-quarters
OF mile of ground separating the
French from the height on which
stand the ruins of Fort Malmaison. 1t
Is most difficult ground, however. and
eXccllently adapted to the kind of de-
1ensive fighting the Germans are car
rylng on. 1t is heavily timbered. and
the broken ground, deep ravincs and
steep slopes make it Impossible for
tanks, but furnish the best possible DO
sitions for machine guns. which the
enemy has assembled in great num-
bers.
1t is the plateau of Chavignon the
Germans are defending here so des-
perately. More than 43O of their dead
were picked up over a space half a
mule long by quarter of mile deep
in the recent fighting. The possession
of this plateau, which is the key to the
positions north of the Chemin-des
Danes, would compel the enemy to
abandon a part of the St. Gobain For
est.
There can be no hurry in carrying
out the immense task General Man
GINS men have before them. but they
already have pressed on much too
closely to their goal to permit the
Germans to remain indefinitely on the
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