FRENCH AND AMERICAN ATTACKS.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14891, 14 October 1918, Page 4

FRENCH AND AMERICAN ATTACKS.

RAPID- PROGRESS EAST OF STL

QUENTIN

MANY VILLAGES OCCUPIED,"

GAINS NORTH OF THE AISNE;

ENEMY RETREATING IN CHAM-

PAGNE

'Australian and N.Z. Cable Associatioß

and Setter.)

London, Oct. 11.

A French communique reports:—

East of St. Quentin our troops,, closely maintaining contact, continued to pursue the enemy, whose rearguards, are resisting severely. We advanced" six kilometres at certain points, and carried the lines to east of Sebancourt, the outskirts of Bernoville, and east of Montigny-en-Arrouais and Bertot. Wo occupied numerous villages, including Fieulain, Neuvillette, Regny, Chatillon-sur-Oise and Thenelles. South of the Oise we captured Servais and took prisoners. Between the Ailette and the Aisne the pressure of our troops, assisted by Italian units operating on both sides oi' the Chemin-des-Dames, forced tho Germans to retire beyond tho Oise Canal. Notwithstanding violent machine-guii; fire, w<j captured Peaunne, Chivy, Verneuil, Courtonne, Bourg and Ccnin. Simultaneously crossing the Aisne east of Oerailly, we drove back the enemy northwards and occupied Pargny and Bax/rieux. Farther.e;ist we attacked strongly, north of Berry-au-Bae, and gained, ground, taking prisoners. In Champagne, the enemy, exhausted by the incoseant severe fighting, since September 26th, on the front of tho Fourth. Army began this morning to retreat in tho direction of the Aisne. Our infantry, hi;stling the rearguards attempting to arrest the advance, j passed the villages of Liry, Monthois>. and Challerange and reached the outskirts of Mont St. Martin and Stu Morel. Further on the right we crossed the Aisne, opposite Termes, which we hold. We occupied the station of Grandprej. i where numerous prisoners were taken. j Despite tho fog on the ninth, ob- ■ serving aeroplanes made numerous reconnaissances far in enemy territory. j Great concentrations of troops are reported, and were attacked by massed j squadrons of aeroplanes, who dropped !33 tons of bombs and fired thousands., [of dfc^tijidges with successful' results|on troop*1 and convoys. [ During these operations 21 enemy ' machines were brought down. j The fog was denser at night when 'only 5£ tons of bombs were dropped on various stations,. An American communique states:— On the right bank of the Meuse the French, fighting with the first Ameri- ■ can Army, continued to advance, and' i valiantly withstood counter-attacks. j The heights eastward or Sivry have been cleared of the enemy. On the left of the Meuse w.& stormed' 'the Cote de Marie after severe fighting; Further westward the enemy have.

CABLE NEWS.

% [Press Association—Copyright.]

been driven from the Argonne Forest, and we have reached the lino of Sommeranco, Marcq, and Chovieres and opposite Grandpre.

We took 1000 prisoners, including two complete battalion, staffs.