Catoctin clarion., 1918-09-12
AMERICANS drive
FOE ACROSS AISNE
General Mangin's Operation a
Flank Movement Behind
Grown Princes Forces.
ENEMY IN GRAVE PERIL.
Allies, Long Inactive About Rheims,
Go Into Battle and Contribute to
Germans Rout North Of the
Former Marne Sector.

LOndon.-The Germans are in full
retreat along the so mile front from
Clamecy, north of Scissors, to the
western approaches Of Rheims. Be-
tween the Vesle and the Aisne they are
closely pursued by the Americans. The
latter already have reached the Aisne
in the river angle east of scissors.
The bulk of the Crown Princes forces
are now back across the Aisne. In
their pursuit the Americans are en-
countering stubborn rear guard re-
sistance, consisting mainly Of machine
gun nests.
Franco-American forces were report
ed south of Vailly-sur-A -Aisne, eight
miles northeast of scissors and two
and half niles south of the slopes of
the eChemin-des-Dames
Late battle front dispatches report
General Barthelots Iaheims army to
have been swung in.o action. The
Vesle-Aisne retreat may presently at
feet the German Champagne army.
The summit Of the dominating pla-
teau north Of the Ves'e Is in American
hands.
Meanwhile the French and British
are breaking down the German stop
gap line east of the Canal-du-Nord and
the Somme.
The French are driving hard and
fast on lie Fere and st. Quentin, while
the British are swOOping down from
the northwest upon tn, river bulwark
In the German main defenses, at the
same time maintaining their pressure
toward Cambria and Douai. In Flan-
ders the British and American forces
mace further progress.
Chauny, the last impo- tant town be-
fore lie Fere is reached, Is said to have
been abandoned by the TeutCns. 1t lies
halfway between NOyon and lie Fere.
Further north, east Of Nesle. the
French ha G made new crossings Of the
Canal du- NOrd and are only two miles
northwest of Ham at ore point and
four miles southeast of Ham at an
other.
General Mangin struck another great
had been on the Vesle. From the Disc
to the Aisne he advanced in the forests
and plateau, gaining at one point to q
depth of two and half miles. The
armies below the Disc advanced on q
front of more than so miles
Frhn nfi,inl rapnr6S thQf thfa
was no retreat on the part Of the Ger
mans, but was q consequence OF the
great hammering to which the divisions
set to hold this flank have been sub
jected for the last two weeks. They
could hold no longer and Mangin's
army jumped forward.
The French and Americans have
crossed the plateau north Of the Vesle
and have reached the ravines leading
to the Aisne.
Our farthest advance patrols are re-
ported to have reached the south bank
Of the canal The Fifth PrussiaD
Guards are resisting on the line Mon.
rival-Roman.
On both sides Of Peronne, east of the
Somme and the Canal-du-Nord, the
British are approaching the high
ground between Athies and Nurlu,
Field Marshal Haig announced In his
bulletin.
Further headway was made by the
British north Of EquancOurt, north
east of Peronne. South Of Marquion
(six and half miles northwest OF
CambraD the British have reached
the east bank Of the Canal-du- Nord.
English and New Zealand divisions
captured Ruyaulcourt, on the east side.
and in close quarter fighting drove the
enemy from the northwestern corner
of HavruncOurt woods, broad forest
Just north of Metz-en- Couture.