The sun., 1918-09-05
Enemy Begins Frantic Ell.
fort to Avert Flanking of
Chemin des Danes.
LEAVES STORES BEHIND
French Advance North Of
Ailette and Battle for
COucy lie Chateau,
LENS MADE A GAS TRAP
British Patrols Explore Coal
City, but Find No Germans
Remaining There.
LENS MADE A GAS TRAP

LONDON. Sept. Awhile the Brit
ish continue to push forward on
their part of the battle front in west
ern France, crossing the Canal du
Nord and the Tortille River on
wide front north of Moislains. which
is about three miles north of Peronne
and occupying considerable number
of villages, among them Moeuvre,
which Is only six miles west of Cam
brai, the great movement in the south
now apparently is under full head
way. The French to-day scored big
gains northeast of Noyon, forcing Il
general retreat of the Germans, who
are closely pursued by French and
American forces.
The greatest gains were made
north Of the Vesle, which has been
crossed on front Of nearly twenty
miles. This retreat, which bids fair
to open the flank of the powerful
Chemin des Danes position and to
enable the French to turn the Hin
denburg line Mt Its southern end,
thus disorganizing the entire German
position In this region, Is likely to
have the most far reaching results,
including as n possibility in the not
distant future the German evacuation
of most Of the territory held in north
ern France, following a prior retire
ment for temporary defence, to
line running from Valenciennes to
the Meuse, far in the rear of the
present front.
In fact the Germans are giving
way and in slow retreat on the entire
line from Ipres to Rheims, n front
of more than 80 miles. The move
ment was most rapid in the north up
to to-day; now the south is pushing
1t closely for speed.
Flight Is Precipitate.
The retreat of the Germans north
of the Nesle is hasty, almost prec!pl-
tate All to-day large conveys were
seen moving to the rear and bridges
are DelHS destroyed.
The Allies advanced guards in the
pursuit Of the enemy north of the
Oise have gone beyond Libermont and
reached the outskirts OF Esmery- Hal
Ion and also have occupied the Bois
de rHospital. Further south the line
extends along Freniches. Guiscard.
Grandru and APPLY.
Crossing the Ailette the French
reached Marizelle. ..northeast of Mani
camp. North of the Aisne Bucy-le-
Long and Moncel have been taken.
After crossing the Vesle the French
advanced beyond Chassemy, Brenelle.
auberlin. NauXcere and Blanzy and
gained footing on The northern crest
of BasleuX This represents a pene-
trotion of about three miles, To the
north OF Novon the Germans were
pushed back to the east of the Canal
du Nord
The Americans who are operating
with the French, are apparently on
the eastern end of this sector. from
east of Fismes to west of BaZOches,
On the Vesle River. which they crossed
to-day at both places in hot pursuit
Ct the retreatlng Germans
Hard Fighting In AiIette.
North OF the Ailette the French
reached the outskirts of CouCy-le-Cha-
teau. for which they have been fghtng
for more than n fortnight. and also en-
tered Juvencourt, South of the river
they drove further east from Louilly and
entered the suburbs Of Clancy and
Braye. About 1900 prisoners had been
taken before noon and the total for the
day is likely to he Uetween 1000 and
1000.
In their advance English and Welsh
troops forced the passage Of the Tortllle
and OF the Canal du NOrd. holding firmly
10 MananCOurt and Etricourt, which
they took yesterday. Further north Eng
lish and New Zealand divisions captured
Ruvaulcourt and reached the northern
outskirts OF IlavrincOurt Wood. east OF
the canal line. Other English divisions
gained the west bank of the canal op-
pos!te DemIcourt and Boursies. re-
pulsInR a strong counter attack.
In Flanders the British advance con-
tlnues. approaching NeuVe Chapelle and
Laventie In the same region they took
Sailly-sur-Lallys and Nieppe. There Is
practically nothing left now Of the old
Lys salient Lens, which was evacuated
by the Germans. has not yet been oc-
cupied by the British as the place was
found to be fun OF deadly gas left bv
the Germans to trap the British 1t
may take n day or two longer to clear
It OF the fumes. but II is now in British
posse ssion. AZ patrols sent in found no
German troops anywhere.
East OF the Canal du Nord the British
reached the western outskirts o. Ma
vile -Bourjouval. nearly a mile east Of