The sun., 1918-08-21
FRENCH SWEEP
LOST HEIGHTS
ON THE OISE
Operations of Mangin's
Troops Reported as ''Splen-
did Success"
FORCE RETREAT TO EAST
German Reenforcements,
Brought Up in Lorries
Are Overpowered.
FORCE RETREAT TO EAST


WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN FRANCE.
Aug. 20. THE operation begun this
morning by Gen. Mangin's troops be-
tween the Aisne and the Disc, south
east OF Noyon and northwest Of Sois-
sons, looks this evening to be a splen-
did success. Gen. Mangin has taken
from the Germans at Cuts and Mont
de Choisy the last heights remaining
south Of the Disc IN that region.
At Mont de Choisy the French
troops are within two and one-half
miles of the Disc at Pontoise. the d.
rect road to which Is now under the
fire OF the French batteries. Garlic
pont, to the southwest, Is also in the
hands OF the French tonight, and
from this place their guns command
another road to the Oise at Sempigny.
directly south Of Noyon.
Gen. Mangin, with his right solldly on
the heights north OF the Aisne around
Fontenoy. IS sweeping the Germans of
the high ground south Of the Otee, oblig-
ing them to retreat across the river or
retire eastward. In either event the
success OF the movement will expose the
region about Noyon to artillery attacks
from the south, tho southeast and the
southwest.
Germans Yield slowly.
The Germans are fighting hard against
this danger, relying principally upon
machine guns. as in the Thiescourt re-
gion, thus indicating that come Of their
artillery already Is across or Is on the
way across the River Olse. The count
Of prisoners and an inventory OF the
booty taken still are incomplete. One
corps In this operation had counted 1900
prisoners up to noon. and had immense
quantities Of captured war materials Of
all sorts.
Yesterdays heavy bombardment ap-
parently warned the enemy that an at
tack was coming. for during the night
fresh enemy divisions were brought up
from long distance in the rear in motor
lorres. and Jaeger divisions. the captors
OF Mont KENNEL. were shifted from the
Scissors region to lrelp meet the shock
of Gen. Mangin's men.
Front Line Quickly Passed.
The whole German front line was
passed one hour after the attack began.
Soon after 3 o'clock the French infantry
was signalled on the far side of tho
Audignicourt ravine. on the roads lead
ing across the plateau.
At the same time the village OF
Caisnes, in the Bois de Ia Montague.
taSt Nd tha
were entering Tartiers, north OF the
Aisne. on the right. The most difficult
part of the operation was the passage
Of Audignicourt ravine. along whose
northern edge ran the main German line
of resistance.
Several thousand prisoners were cap
tured before noon. The enemy resisted
with the greatest vigor at vital spots.
and where the hghting was thickest the
ground was covered with German dead.
The artillery preparation. which was
most violent, began yesterday morning,
and the enemy anticipating an attack.
hastened to reinforce his lines.
An hour and a half after the order
was given to attack infantrymen were
passing Audignicourt and vassens. and
were IollOWcu Wy
Of inch guns. The first line Of defence
was then breaking.
FIJI Ravine With Mustard Gas.
The Germans on retiring filled the
ravine with mustard gas. This, however.
proved only a temporary trouble, the
entire ravine being turned in a short
time and the French troops progressing
toward Blerancourdelle, eight miles
southeast of Noyon.
The artillery reaction was very weak
over this part OF the front.
French aviators, hying way down un-
der the low lying clouds. kept the stan
regularly informed as to the progress OF
the attack and harassed the enemy with
machine gun fire. No German fiers
tried TO interfere with their work. Few
were seen In the air during the morning.
The Germans made a desperate de-
fence In the hilly and wooded region
south OF the Oise. around Carlepont,
Caisnes and Lombray, where they held
strong positions. which were profusely
dotted with quick firers. The Four-a-
Verre and Croisetto Farm were taken by,
the French after violent struggle,
which proved very costly TO the enemy.
Gen. Mangins offensive forestaIled a
German attack. which officers taken pris-
oner say had been prepared for 80
n'clock This fnorniu0