The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1918-09-13
st. Quentin, St. GObain and La
Fere Under Shell Fire.
HUNS FAIL TO HALT FRENCH
Gen. Mangn's Troc ps Advance Beyond
Hainecourt Despite Enemy's Strong
Observation-Disclosures Fighting
Around Ephey and Gouz-
eacourt.

vanced beyond HainecOurt despite
Strong enemy resistance, according to
the war office announcement.
Three StronghoIds Under Fire.
London, Sept list Quentin, La
Fere and the town of St GObain, To-
Gated on the wooded massif of the
same name, three vital points ia the
enemy's great defense system, all are
'nder intense shell fire and in peril of
-dpture.
Regardless of stormy weather, the
British, and particularly the French,
In the last "a hours have fought slow
~ ahead under increasing German re-
sistance.
There have been repeated counter
attacks all along this region, but none
has served to stop the advance OF the
allies. These reactions were especial
ly strong on the Nanteuil plateau, on
the western flank of the Chemin des
Danes.
British Fighting at Epehy.
The war office reports that there has
been local fighting around Epehy and
the British have been forging ahead.
Further south the French have con-
tinued their progress, driving still near
err to st. Quentin and to La Fere, a
key position on the north to the st.
GObain forest and south and west of
there.
French Three Miles From ST. Quentin.
&c. OTO
hardly more than three miles from
the outskirts of st. Quentin, having
taken Hill 1O3, point to the south
west of the city.
Troops of the same army have taken
La Rouge farm, less than two miles
from the edge of La Fere.
If the allies are able to reduce the
La Fere defenses and drive ahead, the
St. GObain massif, great anchor point
In the Hindenburg line, may be turned
from the north and the way opened to
LaOn.
French Now in Forest.
General Mangin'S army meanwhile
has pushed into the forest itself from
the west side and now is only two
miles from the town of st. GObain, a
nerve center of the forest defenses.
The enemy, with the Chemin DIES
Danes position menaced, has counter
attacked desperately but futilely in
the region of Nanteuil la FOsse, north
east of scissors. Day by day the
French in this region have been con-
stantly pushing north and eastward,
improving their positions and crushing
the Germans counters.
Huns Afraid of U. S. Negroes.
With the American Army in France,
Sent. n.-There was considerable pa
troll activity in the VOsgeS district.
One encounter took place, the enemy
retiring with one wounded man. Negro
trOOps have occupied one VOSgeS vii
Iage in which French civilians were
held prisoners The Frenchmen, on
coming through to the American lines,
declared that the Germans were con-
siderably excited at finding themselves
opposed by negroes, of whom they are
said to be afraid because of reports
that the American cOlOred troops cut
off the ears of their prisoners.
Strong Counter-Attacks.
London, Sept luxurious fighting
developed along the st. Quentin front
as we'll as farther south in the region
of the st. GObain forest, where the
Germans, at bay along the Hindenburg
line, are reacting violently with great
concentration of artillery and machine
guns.
Field Marshal Haig, however, an
nounces an advance of about mile in
the direction of La Catalet. The Brit
ish attacked over a four-mile front
from Havrircou wood to Epehy, and
drove forward to and occupied the de-
fensive system from which they re-
tired last March. GouzeaucOurt wood
was captured and the high ground
overlooking the village of that name.
The British report mentions strong
enemy ccunter-attacks at many places,
all of which were repulsed.
With the Germans practically back
in the Hindenburg line and the allies
armies worn by the rapid advance and
heavy fighting of the last week, it is
due. Heavy storms are sweeping the
battlefields, retarding the forward
movement of supporting artillery. The
heavy guns, it is pointed out, are in
dispensable in an attack on so strong
a position as the Hindenburg line.
st. Quentin is, however. in reach of
long range guns, and the Smelling is
bound to interfere with the enemy
troop and supply movements from
that great base.
Meanwhile fresh German divisions
have made their appearance in this
region, so it may be expected that the
resistance will become sitter.
Guns Create Havoc.
Generally speaking, the British
armies are now about five miles away