The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-09-10

Laen is Objective.
Near Laffaux around the bend in the
line to the south of the bastion the
French made some further progress
to the north of the town.
The headway thus made in encircl-
ing the ST Gobain position constituted
the most important feature of yester-
days opera tions because of the fact
thu he objective in this sector Is un-
0ut Onably the German base at
Laoa, the keystone of the whole Ger
man defensive system. A more spec
tacular advance by the French army,
however. was effected further north.
Having forced on Sunday a passage
OF the Crozat canal. on the line oppo-
site the La Fere-St Quentin front,
Monday witnessed rapid develop
ment of the forward push until by
evening advances of well towards
miles beyond the canal had been
scored by the French at some points.
Five towns were taken in this re-
gion. including Essigny-Le Grand di-
rectly south of st. Quentin and only
three and half miles distant. To the
north. beyond the Somme, Etreillers
French forces in closing in on LIE Fere
captured the Liez fort northeast of
Liez, an important wooded lands with
In two miles of La Fere.
Haie's Troops Advance.
On the Franco-American front just
to the south of the Aisne, there was
an Improvement in the allied positions
in the Glennes region.
On the British front, Field Marshall
Haig's troops made headway in their
truning movement south of Havn-
court, where the left flank of the
German position behind the Canal Du
Nord, defending Cambrai on the west,
is being assailed. A German counter
attack on the new British position
along the Hindenburg line near Gou-
zeaucourt. southeast of Havincourt,
was completely repulsed.
In Flanders, the British are contin-
uing their pressure in the direction of
Armentieres, and last night they
achieved advances north and west
of that town. Northeast of Neuve
Chapelle they also moved forward.
German Statement.
British troops yesterday continued
their attack on the Peronne Cambria
road. the German war Office announced
today A formidable thrust made by
tne bTltlSH dSallSl IOuZedCOTut ana
Epey was repulsed.
Between the Aisne and the Vesle
rivers, the statement adds, the Ger
mans repelled French advances.
Offensive Slows Down.
Increased resistance by the Ger
mans and weather conditions unfa-
vorable to the swift movement of
troops have tended to slow down the
cd of oil that CT, of
the battle line from St Quentin to
Carmbrai Here the British in fight
ing of local character have carried
their lines to Havricourt wood. To
the south. Field Marshal Haig's men
have taken Vermond and Vendeles,
the former about five miles from st.
Quentin.
On the British right the French have
advanced to within four miles of ST
Quentin. At Liez they crossed the
Crozat canal and their patrols are
nearing La Fere, which is reported to
be burning With the fall OF La Fere
only question of time the French
also command all of the region west
of the Disc river and are tightening
their line around st. Quentin and in
the valley to the east through which
they must pass to take Laon. The
cartire of La Fere will be a serious
menace to the strong German defenc-
es In the st. Gobain massis. From
this point south to, Laffaux, German
artillery fire has increased in violence,
and numerous counter-attacks indicate
that further progress by the French
would be contested vigorously
Franco-American Gain.
Failure to stop the allied advance
at other strong positions and the burn
ing OF La Fere furnishes evidence Of
the weakness of the German line, and
Of their ultimate inability to stop the
turning movement against the st. Go
baln forest, the keystone Of the Ger
man positions barring the further
movement eastward OF the allied arm