Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-09-04
FRENCH ADVANCE
SIX MILES, TAKE
FORTY VILLAGES
Yanks RepuISe Many Counter
Attacks Near Iuvigny.
CAVALRY AFTER FLEEING FOE
German Retreat North of the AVre
is More Speedy Since Fall of
chaulnes-Petain's Forces
Peach Noyon.

Reach Noyon.
Paris, Aug 29.-In a swift advance,
tain points, the French troops south
of the Somme recaptured 40 villages.
the war Office announced.
The left back of the Somme has
been reached between Cizancourt and
Nesle, as well as the west bank of the
Conal du Nord, between Nesle and
Noyon, over the greater part of its
course.
American troops in the region OF
Juvigny repulsed numerous German
counter-attacks and broke up an en-
envy attempt to cross the Vesle south
OF Bazoches.
French Arrive at Noyon.
With the French Armies in the
Field, Aug. 29.-French cavalry dur
ing the morning entered Nesle. French
infantry occupied the town of Cressy.
two and half miles southeast OF
Nesle. The French Third army cap
tured Dives and, pushing on to the,
eastward, reached the outskirts of
Noyon.
The retreat of the Germans was.
much quickened at some parts of the
front, while southeast of Roye the
entry into action of German guns of
all calibers slackened the French pur-
suit.
Harwassed by Own Shells.
With the French Armies in France,
Aug. 29.-The German retreat north
of the Avre river, in Picardy, has been
far more speedy since the fall Of
Chaulnes Wednesday than previously.
Vigorously pursued by French troops
and harassed by their own mustard
gas shells, which they left behind ana
which are being fired from German
guns by French gunners, the enemy
is making haste to cross the River
Ingon in the region of Nesle and the
Canal du Nord.
Pursued Toward Canal.
General Debeney's men, without
great opposition, advanced four and a
half miles during the night, and in
Tie iuOInliiS lliNAi NhNoaAt "NS hR'A
Nesle, close on the heels of the re-
firing enemy.
The pursuit toward the Canal du
Nord slackened during the morning
when the enemy's artillery of all cali
bers maintained a heavy fire from
strong positions west of the canal.
After Chaulnes fell, Gommiecourt,
taken by the French, while later Cres-
sy, Balatre. Champion and Roiglise.
between Nesle and Roye, were cap
tured and more than score of other
villages occupied.
Towns Mere Piles of Debris.
The battlefield the Germans have
abandoned presents a picture of de-
VISITATION and .desolatlon that has not
been surpassed during the war. Roye
and the villages round about have
been quite as thoroughly demolished
as Montddier and MOreuil. Even
cemeteries have been blown up, tomb
stones smashed and graves opened.
T8e names of towns in this region no
longer have any other significance
than as a remniscence and a geo
graphical designation. They have
ceased to exist as towns. Their sites
are hardly recognizable for the in.
tense Smelling has not only obliterated
streets and defaced boundary lines.
but has rendered the topography I'M
recognizable in many places.
Rove Filled With Gas.
The ruins abandoned by the Ger
mans previously were carefully filled
with mustar, gas. For this reason
Rove is still inaccessible for occupa-
ton.
The Germans were not able to use
all the gas proiectiles they brought to
the present front and large dumps Of
them fell into French hands. They
are now being fired against the enemy
from some of the hundreds of German
guns the French First army has taken
since August s.
The French Third army also at
tackled in the morning. occupying
Dives and pushing eastward to Vau-
chelles. less than half mile from
Noyon, the fall of which appears TO
be only a question of hours. if the
French so elect.
Can't Halt on Disc.
With the French in possession Of
Noyon. the Germans will have only
their positions to the northeast, in the
hills along the Disc. and in the north
west. on the west bank of the Canal
du Nord, TO protect their retreat TO
the forest of St. GObain and the Hin
denburg line.