Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-06

september, 0.-SecClOu "A. ouI l1oopS
continuing their advance in co-opera-
ton with the French, have crossed
| the plateau north of the Fesle, and
have reached the crest of the slopes
leading to the valley of the Aisne
There is nothing of Importance to re-
port from the other sectors occupied
by our troops.
BRITISH.
September 6.-Yesterday our troops
forced crossings of the, Somme south
of Peronne in the face of the vigorous
resistance of the enemy's rear guards
on the east bank of the river. The
villages of ST. Christ-Briest and lie
Mesnil-Bruntel were captured, with
number of prisoners, and our troops
pressing forward astride the Anriens-
st. Quentin road have reached Athles
and Mons-en-Chaussee.
East of Peronne We have taken
Doingt and have made important
progress on the high ground between
Peronne and Nurlu. We hold Bossu
and are close to Templeux-La Fosse,
Nurlu and Equancourr. Sharp. fight
ing took place last night on this line;
ON the Lys front ground was gained
by our troops during the night west OF
La Bassee and an attack upon one OF
our new posts in this locality was sue
cessfully beaten off.
progress yesterday and last night our
troops are established in portions OF
the old German front lines east OF
front line in the Sauquissart sector is
again held by US.
By successful attack carried out
yesterday evening English troops ads
Arm a capturing several prison
erS.
September Son the southern part of
the battle front both north and south OF
Peronne our troops are advancing and
driving in the enemy's rear guards.
They are approaching the high
ground on the front between Athles
and Nurlu. Between Nurlu and the
River Sensee minor engagements on
different parts of the battle front are
Our lines have been advanced
SLIGHTLY on the spur north of Equan-
court and local fighting has occurred
about euville-Bourjonv and Moeu-
vres.
crossed to the east bank of the Canal
du Nord and brought back prisoners
from a German post.
On the Lys front the enemy again
attacked strongly this morning on the
sector north of Hill Sc and was re-
nulsed after sharp fighting. We
pushed our lines forward short dis
tance during the day south and south
east of Nieppe and northeast of WuI-
verghem.
Ayiation-Much reconnaissance and
Photographic work was accomplished
a large number of artillery and con-
tact patrols were carried out. The
weight of bombs dropped by us dur
ing the day was twenty-three tons.
No bombing was possible after DARK.
Enemy machines, working in large
formations on the German side of the
lines, showed considerable activity.
TWENTY-FIVE hostile machines were
brought down by our airmen and no
less than nine balloons were shot
down in flames. In addition, fourteen
hostile machines were driven down
out of control. Sixteen or our ma
chimes are missing.
One of our machines, reported as
missing in the fighting of September
2, has since returned.
In the course of the weeks which
have elapsed since the commencement
of our offensive on August s 465 enemy
machines have been brought down by
our airmen, their destruction being
in every case clearly established. In
addition, the total of enemy machines
proved to have been driven down out
of control. many of which must &C.
tually have crashed. is exactly 200.
The above figures are exclusive OF
the considerable number of enemy
machines brought down by gunfire
from the ground. Sixty-one German
balloons have been set on fire. Nine
hundred and eleven and one-half tone
of bombs have been dropped by us.
Practically the whole of the air
fighting has taken place on the enc
my's side of the line. The number OF
our machines which have failed to
return during this period is 262.