The French and American armies operating on either side of
the Argonne completed by Thursday week the task of clearing its tangled thickets and swampy ravines, obstinately defended by German machine-gunners. They thus united their forces on the southern edge of the valley of Grandpre, the gateway of the Argonne. Since then the French have been advancing slowly to the north-west of Grandpre, while the Americans have continued their tremendous Offensive against the so-called " Kriemhilde " line from the Argonne to the Meuse and across the river eastward. General Pershing's bulletins are marked by extreme reticence, but it is known that the Americans have broken through the enemy's defences at several points and have repulsed incessant counter-attacks by very strong
forces. Nowhere has the week's fighting been more desperate than in this sector. The American advance down the Meuse towards Stenay and Sedan threatens the main artery of the German com- munications south of the Ardennes, and thus must be resisted.
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