Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-09
HUNS NEAREST PARIS
GET SMASHING BLOW
FROM GEN. PETAIN
French Push Into Enemy Line q
Mile, Along a Front Of Two
and o Half Miles.
.BOCHE LOSE rs PLANES
British filters Again Bomb LuZcrn-
berg and Metz, and Harass
Foes Lines.
AUsTRIA's LOSS. 10000 MEN

associstof Press Summary Iesusd - p RI
French troops HE the German lines
smashing blow today early in the area
almost directly north of Paris. where the
Germans were stopped after FIVE days ~
fighting in their thrust toward tho cspltsi
in the last and least successful N At
their 1913 oTensives, about month ago
The attack was delivered along ? ~
mile front and az some points General
Petsin's troops pushed into the enemy
positions for the distance 81 milo, Two
farms we're captured, and = counter
attack which was delivered against ono "
them vas repuIsed About $50 prisoners
were taken.
Capture Valuable High Ground.
The area chosen for the blow was iugt
south of the Matz river region, northwest
Of the Compiegne forest, an the front be-
tween Montdidier and tho Disc. The
point ~ the German @edge protected
here IN the ncighborhood n ABthenii, and
il was inst n the west n this town.
astride the COr1piegne road, that the
French drove In taking valuable high
ground on both sides Of the highway.
The attacking forces were assisted by
tanks IN their drive. Apparently an the
terrain gained has been maintained in
tart.
There hae boon considerable artillery
lighting and raiding along THE front IN the
past few days, but tins mornings was tho
first infantry operation u note that has
occurred there since the German June
offensive vas crushed on the Mstz
largely through the cfective Tounter-
attack delivered on the third dsy q the
offensive along the line 20 the northwest
q - "a
PROTECTS RAILWAY JUNCTION.
The new advance Will serve still further
10 protect the important railway Junction
of E.strees-St Denis, which les seven
miles southwest Of AntheIni.
Further 20 the southeast along rhe line,
the French continued 10 develop their
success Of yesterday gaming additional
ground on the Marne front. east of the
Rets forest, by forcing the Germans bark
further IN the vicinity Of the Chawgny
farm.
Way ATTACK AMERICANS AGAIN
On the British front there we're only
raiding operations The Germans how
ever, apparently are contemplating
further effort 10 regain the positions
recently taken BY the australians, with
american ass Istance IN the Amlens area
south VI the SCmme. HE German guns
asst night were actively bombardng the
British lines ID tins region.
The French war Once reports consider
able artillery activity 10 the vest anu
north 81 Chateau Thierrv on the Marine
front. where the americans are holding
several mules OF the lne-
Associated Press Summary Issued az ?. n.
French troops again have been sue
cessfui in q resumption 81 the nlbbtlng
tactics which the allied eOmniand mas
followed while the Germans prepare Tor
= new blow. The lighting activity on the
western front. howe ver, stiI IS much
localized. From the enemy lines come
no Indications that the Germans ara
about 10 strike
FRENCH MOVE Up on 2-MILE FRONT
Important positions on front OF two
miles TO a depth Of UWO-thlrus oi mile
and $50 prisoners we're taken by the
French in their latest effort IN he region
OF Longpout, northeast 81 FIiieFs-S o.
terets The sector on which The gam
vas made IS Just south OF where he French
last week made important local gains IN
the region OF st. Pierre Aigle and north-
ward for SIX miles toward me Alsne.
No counter-attacks have been MADE BY
the enemy, nor has ne struck back AZ the
Australians IN their new positions astroe
the SOmme.
ISsrRUCTING TROOPS FoR Drive.
For several weeks the Germans nave
been drilling aud instrucung specia.
attacking divisions behind the German
lines leaving the front positions 70 be
guarded BY mediocre troops. German
aerial activity has decreased IN the pas
few DAYS and Il is probable he Armcn
also are making ready for the next on
s.aught The German artillery nre has
increased 10 above normal only on certain
sectors
1t is noy unlikely the enemy vii de-
pend On the element of surprise m tAe
impending blow as he lid On March Il
and in the attack against The Chemln-des-
DANES.
While the Germans have been spread
ulg. reports of an attack against the Brit
isb. It now Is known they have nor con
structcd defensive works on the front
between scissors and Rheims. The usual
interval between enemy offensive move
ments has about expired
HUNS lose 50 AIRCRAFT
kntento airmen are keeping mp AZ
active bombardmcnt Of tine area behind
the German lines British flyers again
Continued On page
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