FRENCH PROGRESS.

Evening Star, Issue 16837, 12 September 1918, Page 3

FRENCH PROGRESS.

ST. QUENTIN-LA FERE ROAD REACHED. STORMY WEATHER SETS IN. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z Cable Association and .Reuter. LONDON, September 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports; Except for local fighting on the Epehy-G nizea-ucouat sector, there is nothing to report ou the \>atLle£rocrt. soirtH of t-iie Scarpo. On the Lys front we slightly progressed north-east of Neuve Chappe.ie and westward of Armentieres. Storms continue. French communique: Between the Somme and the Oise our troops progressed, despite a sharp resistance. We advanced beyond Hinacoiirt, and repulsed t counter-attack debouching from Eseigny-le-Qrand. Fighting occurred along the St Quentin-La Fere road, and we have occupied the village of Travecy (two miles N of La Fere). South of the Oise we threw back several counter-attacks in the region of Laffaux. Reuter’s Telegrams LONDON, September 10. Reuter’s correspondent at French Headmartens, writing this afternoon, says; Despite wind and rainstorms yesterday, further considerable progress was made between St. Quentin and the Oise. We are closing on Essigny-le-Orand village. The enemy are toughly resisting on the line Estrigny - le - Grand - Hinaccu:t. Farther louth, our patrols are progressing without serious opposition in the direction of Iravecy, which is well in tomh with the aindsnburg positions on the t«ank of the Oise-Sambre Canal. South of the Ailette the enemy’s artillery and machine-gun resistance is becoming steadily heavier. ENEMY FORTIFICATIONS.

SENSATIONAL ACCOUNTS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PARTS, September 10. The Hindenbiirg line is cnlr an element in multifarious defensive wo:ks. The second line ol" withdrawn 1., called the Hundirtj* line, starts south of Lille, and passes west of Dcmai. in front of Cambrai, and east of Le Catelet, thence along the Oise and the Aisne, where it runs from five to ten kilometres behind the present line. The third line, called the Metz-Lille line, runs 10 miles east of Douai, covering Mezieres, Oharleville, and S;dan, following the right bank of the Meuse, and finally rejoining the Bunding line. The Germans axe working feverishly at the fourth line. The withdrawal to each line shortens the front, so that it can be defended with fewer effectives, thus maintaining the defensive outside German territory. PARIS, September 11. Well-informed opinion does nob credit Alajshal Foch with tie intention of an endeavor to reduce the Hindenburg line by a direct frontal attack. All Paris is tiptoe with expectation as to the next move. Many are closely watching General Mangin's operations around the St. Gobain Forert, but others are looking for events bevond Rheims, and even beyond "Verdun. It is known that the Germans liave immensely strengthened the Hindenbnrg defences. The railways behind the new'lines have been practically doubled, and mainnew sidings have been built. Every station- is crowded with trucks filled" with munitions and supplies. Behind St. Quentin powerful new trenches have been created along the canal in haste. The new system is barbed everywhere, and there is also an enormous number of reinforced concrete shelters, some being large enough to hold 100 men, but mostly containing trarrisons of eight or nine men. The roofs of these fortlets are 4ft to sft and are declared able to resist repeated hits by Bin and lOin guns.

AUSTRIANS FOR WEST FRONT. COPENHAGEN, September 10. The populace of Austria-Hungary is rraeasv. The recent despatch of troops from Vienna to the west front provoked a riot. Thousands- of women raided the railway station, protesting against the departures. LONDON, September 10. Zurich reports that a large number of Austrians are leaving Italy for the west. This is regarded as meaning that the Italian front has definitely become a secondary issue, and that the Allies’ successes on the west front are profoundly impressing the enemy leaders. DEVASTATION AND REPRISALS. LONDON, September 10. The enemy’s wanton devastation of •vacuated territory and historic buildings Is evoking many Anglo-French demands for retaliation. It is suggested that the Allies should an- i nounce that for every town or village sacked and burned a German town or village will be treated similarly, and that Berlin will be responsible for Brussels, Hamburg for Antwerp, Cologne for Ghent, and Frankfort for Bruges. AMSTERDAM, September 10. German war correspondents report that Douai is being evacuated. The civilians have left the town. REPINCTON’S GOSPEL. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Eeuter. LONDON, September 11. Colonel Repington, writing from France, urges that the recent great improvement in our position in France demands a reconstruction of our plans for 1919. He says that France is preparing maximum efforts to secure a victory in 1919. but he cannot find Britain doing the same. He declares that vast arrays of tanks and aeroplanes are not substitutes for infantry, which must be kept up to strength. If we really intend to go all-out for victory in 1919, we must secure the utmost possible increase in our infantry strength. GERMANY FULL OF FIGHT. WASHINGTON, September 10. The State Department has sanctioned the following statement by Mr Morris, United States Minister in Sweden : “ The German people still believe in the invincibility of the German army. They have been kept in ignorance regarding the reserves on the west front and the significance of America’s entry into the war. The people are reduced to minimum rations, but they have a sufficiency. The conditions have improved in the southern parts of Germany, where the hotels and resorts serve meals at moderate prices. It is a mistake to believe that the internal conditions are lessening the people’s loyalty.” BURIAN’S PEACE OVERTURE. Renter's Telegrams. LONDON, September 10. Reuter’s Amsterdam correspondent states ;h’t Count Burian yArstro-Hungariav Foreign Minister), in a stronglv pacifist ipeech to some German journalists visiting Vienna, contended that the belligerents efforts to attain their respective war aim.would not justify the huge sacrifices still necessary. Therefore, he suggested that the adversaries should provide an opportunity for a calm exchange of views. He

believed that some sort of direct informative discussion was possible, which would irrpowise be peace negotiations. He exhorted the pressmen to cultivate these views.