Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-09-17

Advance Between Disc and Somme.
Paris, Sept. 11.-Between the Somme
and the Disc the French have adj
vanced beyond Hainacourt, despite
strong enemy resistance, according to
the war office announcement
Three StronghoIds Under Fire.
London, Sept. 11.-St. Quentin, La
Fere and the town of st. Gobain, To-
Gated on the wooded massif of the
same name, three vital points in the
enemy's great defense system, all are
under intense shell fire and in peril of
capture.
Regardless of stormy weather, the
British, and particularly the French,
in the last "A hours have fought slow
ly ahead under increasing German re-
eistGnce 9cs
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
GouzancOurt, in the direction of which
the British have been forging ahead.
Here the Germans have counter-as-
saulted repeatedly, but were unable to
shake the grip of the British on the
high ground they have won.
Further south the French have con-
tinued their progress, driving still near
er 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.
General Humbert's troops are now
hardly more than three miles from
the outskirts of st. Quentin, having
taken Hill 103, a 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, a 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 des
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.
Three German Lines of Defense.
Paris, Sept. 11.-There are three
German lines of defense behind the
Hindenburg line, the first closely par
alleling it and the others providing for
retreats along wide fronts, according
to an outline of the German defense
system printed by the Matin.
The first line in the rear of the Hin
denburg position, according to the
newspaper, starts from the south OF
Lille and parallels the Hindenburg
line ut an average from three to six
miles. The second comprises line
running from Lille to Metz, the inter.
mediary points ON which the newspa.
per does not indicate. This line would
be about $50 miles long.
Finally. the newspaper adds, there
is II fourth retreat line, on which the
Germans now are vigorously working
1t runs from Va,enciennes, 20 miles
east Of Doual, in a southeasterly direc
tior ~ Ciivet, on the Mouse, ut the Bel
gian border. The front thus indicated
extends FOR about sixty miles.
Huns Afraid of Negroes.
With the American Army in France
Sept. 1.-THE enemy heavily ShelleC
towns ~ the Woevre sector behind oul
lines Monday. One of his patrols at
tackled the American outposts, but wa.
easily driven OF.
There was considerable patrol activ
ity i'm the Vosges district. One en-
counter took place, the enemy retirin.
with one wounded man.. Negro troop.
have oac'IrIed enc VoSges village Il
which French civilians were held pris
oaerS The Frenchnen. on. comm.
through 70 The American lines, de
clared that the Germans were consid
cr,dly rNcited at finding themseive
opposed hy negroes, OF whom they ar,
said n hc afraid because Of report.
that the American colored troops Gu
y the ears of their prisoners.