The Mena weekly star., 1918-08-15
ALLIES CONTINUE
 TOPUSH HUNSBACK
Tanks Perform Great Feats Tn Clear ing Away Obstacles in Path of Ad- vancing Army-German Anti
 Tank Rifles Useless

Aug. 1Z-The Germans are retlrlhs gradually everywhere in the face of the fire from the British rifles, guns and machine guns The Americans and British north of the Somme had further hard fighting and with fine spirit pushed on toward Bray. They have traversed the northern spur east of Chipilly, and Etinehem as well is in their hands. Gressarie wood had long since been cleared of the enemy, the allied forces passing around the wood, which was reeking with gas from many pockets.
 Here both the British and Ameri- cans were helped on their way by tanks. At one place tank, contain ing l2 volunteers, rushed a strong enemy position. Scores of Germans were killed and seven officers and 200 men were captured. This permitted the infantry to get on to the line it was holding this morning.
 U. s. Must Expect Losses.
 The Americans in the fighting of the past 20 hours had further casual ties, principally caused by machine gun bullets. But their casualties were no more than should have been ex- pected among troops constantly deliv- ering attacks against the enemy who here put up probably the stiffest re- sistance of any along the line, realiz- ing the importance of the positions, which are now in the hands of the British. and Americans.
 A considerable number of addition al prisoners were taken here and the Germans suffered extremely heavy losses.
 Up to date 31 German divisions have been in contact with the allied forces Of these 21 have been en- gagged between the extreme left of the allied flank and where the French join the British. A number of pris- oners from these divisions have also been captured by the French. Ten divisions of Prince Rupprecht's re- serves have been identified
 Large groups of prisoners, hungry thirsty and grimy, and appearing i thoroughly disheartened, continue tc arrive at the collecting cages. Among the captured were five regimenta commanders and 10 battalion com f manders.
 Late today strong enemy forces were concentrating east of Proyart and apparently were making prepar. ations to oppose determined resist. ance. However, the German object probably is merely to cover the re. treat of the large enemy forces. They have the additional need of attempt. ing to take away great amount oi hea9y material, of which they recent
 ly lost large quantity, and feel thu military necessity of risking mar
 power in order to protect the remain
 ing supplies.
 ] The scores of allied observers il airplanes reported that long streams
 of enemy troops and transports wer'
 rushing eastward including the vicin ity east of Bray Great columns O
 Germans were crossing the Somm'
 river even by the bridges that hat been badly damaged by allied bomb
 CTS. who have dropped many tons O
 explosives at vital points. The enem!
 bombers also have been busy and re
 peatedly were chased away by Brit
 ish pursuit planes to prevent then
 from dropping bombs to hinder tn advance If fha troops
 The Germans were reported to b.
 retreating eastward past Perronne il
 the greatest disorder. Many wer said to be without arms, apparentl, having discarded their weapons : Among them were many wounded
 staggering along on foot
 Reports from the south receive,
 here say that the French continue t
 push along the Montdidier-Roye road ! Mary fires and explosions are report ed within the German lines as thei
 retreat goes on. Much of this destruc tion was caused by the German : themselves, but in some cases shell from allied guns struck and explode, ' enemy ammunition dumps.
 Chauines was shrouded in cloud of smoke, shot with flame. Amonl
 other buildings in the town, the rail way station was reported as havinI been burning for many hours.
 The German resistance thus far gen erally appears to become weaker a l the battle progressed toward the cen ter, especially opposite the position
 held by the Australians. Here, fo ' instance, the artillery of the allie l often was required to lift the fire : thousand yards at time, so rapi has been the advance of the infantry l All the counter attacks that the en , emy has been able to organize hay ! failed, notably one east of Foliei ? where extremely heavy casualties
 were inflicted on the Germans. Tanks. both the large ones and tn ) "whippets," again performed tre } mendous services at a small cost | r themselves all along the line. At on ; small town. south of the Amiens
 Rove road, the advancing French in
 fantry sent word to the British ths
 they could not get on because c heavy machine gun fire from tn ? town.
 I Five ponderous armored monster , went over and rolled directly into th place. Their crews discovered tia . the houses were crowded with Gen mans manning machine guns. prime l pally from second story windows. On ] tank leisurely advanced upon hous'