The sun., 1918-09-22
Enemy's Position Becomes
PrecariOus as British and
French Slowly Gain.
COUNTER ATTACKS FAIL
Haig's Men Getting Near
High Ground Dominating
Canal Defence.
GIGANTIC SMASH NEARS
Triple Blow Expected to Free
Large Section of France
From German Grip.
GIGANTIC SMASH NEARS
Special Cobie Despdtch 10 TIRE suS.
Copyrtpht, 1918; all rights reserved.

| Spectdf t0Ofe DespdtcN 70 lHb sCN.
Copyright. 1918; all rights reserved.
LONDON. Sept. 21.-The Germans
are struggling desperately to hold
their present positions just back Of
the old Hindenburg line and are de-
livering furious counter attacks in
the effort to stop the British and
French advance on the front from
Cambria to south of st. Quentin, but
despite this and most unfavOrable
weather conditions the Allies are
progressing steadily and the situa-
tion of the Germans is fast becoming
precariouS.
BY the capture Of Essigny-leGrand
the French have improved their posi-.
tlon greatly and st. Quentin can now
be subjected TO artillery fire from
three directions. While the Allies
lines early in the year were closer to
the city Mt some points than they are
now, 1t will be contrary TO al, ex.
perience In the present war II, in
spite Of it's strong defences. st. Quen.
tin can hold out much longer against
the pressure which the Allies are
bringing to benr. =
Counter Attacks FAN.
The British to the north slowly are
| approaching the line Of the canal a.
lie Cateiet and also the main road be-
tween ct. Quentin and Cambria By
mi nat %
Epehy they advanced their line fur.
ther in the face of the strongest OPP
position from the Germans, followed
by numerous counter attacks. some Of
them in considerable strength. but all
the German efforts failed. The Brit
isiI objective is the high ground which
dominates the canal
1t is in this region that military eX-
perts expect to see n smashing blow
delivered against the German main
defence positions. which, If successful,
VIII clear all that part OF France of the
invader. and apparently the time for
such a blow Is close at hand.
Closely connected with this move
ment and perhaps OF even greater i'm
poi Is tIlc
northeast of Soissons. The chief i'm
Torrance of st. Quentin to the Allies is
that 1t Is the chief outpost guarding
L;.on from the north. Laon Is prob
ably the most important supply depot
that the Germans have in France,
ranking even above Lille and the
whole French plan apparently is dl-
rected to its reduction.
Only Ten Miles From Lson.
comparatively slight additional.
advance by the French on their pres
cnt lines would make Laon and the
Chemtn des Danes, which guards It on
the east. untenablc by the Germans.
The French are only ten miles from
the city now, and 1t is under the fire
OF their heavy guns, while fires have
been observed in ST. Quentin, the sign
ot q German retreat, and the civilian
population IL being removed.
The outlook at the end OF the wee,
is most favorable. perhaps more favor
Bile In It's broader aspects than at any
time this year. BY his three successive
drives In tho last eleven days IN widely
and Lorraine. Marshal Foch has put
the group OF armies comma nded by the
German Crown Prince In a most perilous
position. Their line OF retreat from
Laon to Maubeuge is threatened by the
British, while the alternative route from
I-aon and Rheims 10 Luxembourg and
Metz Is menaced by the American aC-
vance north OF St. Mihiel
Weather Expected TO Improve.
The official forecasiers predict a de-
cided improvement In the weather wh!c,
is likely to continue for several weeks
II this predictin " fulfilled "a revival o.
resumption of fighting on a large scale
may be expected as soon as the ground
hardens a bit so as TO permit the move
ment of troops and guns In the extensive
way that such operations demand A,
though the Germans are Offering muc.l
stronger resistance In the last week @.
so, II was the weather more than Tn.
I<aiser's troops that caused the apparent
lul.
With the improvement IN the last few
days there has been Il great resumption
OF aerial activity. which undoubtedly
will Increase as conditions become more
favorable, for the airmen are to larger
extent than any other branch subject ~
the vagaries OF the weather: not that
they cannot hy in bad weather, but their
nying is OF little use, as their observs-
ton is extremely limited
One OF the chief objects OF Cen Pc
shing's advance. probably was to bring
about exactly the situation as regards a
possible German retreat on a huge scale