Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-09-10
FRENCH WITHIN
TWO MILES OF
!. GERMAN BASE
Outlying Fort and Wood
Near LaFere Captured
by Franks.
WAR ENTERS PERIOD,
WAR ENTERS PERIOD,
OF PRECAUTION
Paris Believes Six Weeks Of Unbroksn
Victories Will Be Followed by Ac.
eomplishmsnts Just ~ Wonderful
VIZ Weather Now hampsrins Oper'
ations to Some Extent-German Re.
sistins Desperately.
[By the Associated Pressl


Fast progress was made by the
Frsneh yesterday in closing in on
both St.. Quentin and laFers, i'm
portant German stron9holds along
the southern section Of the Hinden-
burg line. They are within two
miles Of laFere, where fires have
been seen, and within thrss and
one half miles Of ST. Quentin.
In the region Of LaFsrs the
French are pushing toward the
formidable St. Gobain bastion de-
Tending Laen. They have nadl an
impression by directing ap attack
! toward. the Ssrvaiss sseAsr. The
station was captured ysstsrday and
by taking eriquettay, farther south,
Gsnsral Petain's troops have ad.
vanesd 70 within short distance
> Of the town Of St. Gobain, on one
Of the highest points Of the bastion.
Near LaFaffaux, around the bend
in the line TO the south Of the bas-
tion the French made sone further
progress to the north Of the town.
The hsadway thus made in en-
eireling the St. Gobain positions
constitutes the most important, fea-l
ture Of yesterdays operations be.
cause Of the fact that the objective
in this sector 10 unquestionably the
German base Of laon.
Having forced on Sunday . pass.
age Of the crozat canal, on the line
opposite the LaFere.St. Quentin
front, Monday witnessed rapid
development Of the forward push
until by evening advances Of we'll
howard Eve miles beyond the canal
had been scored by the French at
some points. Five towns were taken
in this region, including Essisny
Ls Grand, directly south Of ST.
Quentin, and only three and one
half miles distant.
To the north, beyond the somme,
Etrsillers and Rospy were taken,
while the French forces in 'olosinS
in on laFere captured the Lisx fort,
northwest Of Lisz. and important
wooded land within two miles Of
laFere.
On the Franco American frent
just TO the south Of the Aisne
there was an Improvement in the
allied position in the clennss
region.
With the fall Of La Fere only
question Of time. the French. also
command all Of the region west Of
the pise river and arc tiohteninu
their line around St. Quentin and
in the valley to the east thru
which they must pass to taks
laon.
The capture Of LsFere would bs
a serious menace TO the strong
German defenses in the st. cohain
n,assif. From this point south 70
LaHaux, German artillery fire Mas
increased in violence. Numerous
counter attacks Indicated that
further progress by the French will
be eontssted vigorously.
Failure to stop the allied sd
vanee>a at other, strono positions and
the burning Of Ia Fsre furnishes
evidence Of the weakness Of the
German line and Of their ultimate
inability to stop the turning move
mont against the ST. Gobain forest,
the keystone Of the German posi-
, tions barring further movement
eastward Of the allied armies. Re-
inforeemsnts have been rushed into
the defense line east Of Rheims
which would be affected " 81.
Gohain falls.
South Of the Aisne, where the
French and Americans are ad.
vaneing, the enemy has eoreen.
trated much artillery and heavy
Y firing 10 reported. Infantry engage
r,snts have besn confined % patrol
encounters.
Paris, Sept. 9.-Important prokrei
oward the southern end Of the Hir
line In the neighborhood
4aFere, north Of the st. Gobain massi
vas made by Frenth forces today.
y The war Office tonight ANNOUNCED II
apture OF the ,Liez fort. northeast I
he town Of Liez. and Of wooded r
lions 70 the east and southeast Of Lie