The occupation by the Freach of the village of Vauquois and the plateau east of Argonne, and the capture of trenches in Consenvoye wood, north of Verdun, indicate how strenuously our Allies are pushing forward in the northeast of France.
Readers of the official communiques have noticed recently repeated mention of the operations in the Argonne. Some time ago a slight retire ment of the French troops was spoken of, but if the enemy has designed to resume his original plan to effect a penetration between the Argonne ridge and Verdun, he has failed to secure the strategic points necessary to success. In fact the French in January held nearly two- Th thirds of the Argonne ridge, which runs nearly north and south, and since then they have gained' considerable ground at several points. Moreover the network of railways to the south and southwest of Ver. dun allows of the reinforcement of the troops in this region whenever the necessity arises. The Germans have not been able to advance beyond St. Mihiel, but the violence and pertinacity of the attacks upon the French who hold the Argonne ridge suggest that another effort may be made to isolate Verdun. No one realizes better than Gen. Joffre how important it is that this German route into the heart of France should be blocked. Hence the French are in great force and now, instead of being content with defensive measures, they are steadily forcing back the German lines.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.