Evening star., 1918-08-10
FOch Strategy
and Its Fruits

Montdidier, the apex Of the German
salient in Picardy. has fallen The
French, attacking to the south of the
town early this morning, smashed
through the enemy's lines and encir-
cled the village, cutting on the
enemy's retreat.
Between Montdidier and the Disc the
French have taken the offensive over
a sixteen-mile front. and have swept
the Germans back out of the western
side of the salient they drove into the
French lines in the terrific battles Of
early June.
To the northward the British ad-
vance is still unchecked. Chaulnes,
the German base south Of the Somme,
is in hourly peril Of being captured.
The British have reached the village
of Lihons, less than two. miles away,
and have the railway junction south
of chaulnes under their artillery fire.
Americans Do Part.
Farther north the Germans are re-
sisting desperately, but the village of
Morlancourt has been taken. Ameri-
can troops are operating in this sec
tor and had hand in taking this saw
agely defended position.
There comes from London a report
that the fighting has spread to the
northward and that a battle is being
fought south Of Arras- This report,
II true, Is new menace to the whole
German position north of the Somme.
The most important development IN
the news today is the French attack
along the line from Montdidier to the
Disc and the fall of Montdidier. The
Germans placed a high value on Mont
didier during their offensive in March
and the fighting south Of the Mont
ier-Noyon lines early in June was
of character that evidenced the de-
termination of the enemy to tear
through the allies toward Compiegne.
French Attack Furiously.
The French attack this morning was
launched with such fury that posi-
tions for which the Germans paid
thousands of lives in June have been
recaptured from them.
North Of Montdidier, the situation
appears to be very dangerous to the
Germans. The rapid advance of the
OF the troops farther south. who must
now retire eastward toward Noyon
over open roads, which are under fire
for long distances. If Chaulnes is cap
tured. the German position farther south
south is precarious in the extreme.
The line as 1t stood early today was
as follows: From east of Morlanoourt
to Chipilly. on the Somme. thence
through Morocourt, where 1t turns
sharply to the east to Proyart, thence
to the southeast to Bainecourt and
Lihons; thence southwest to Mehari-
court, Rouvroy, Bouchoir, Arvillers,
Davenescourt and Gratibus, on the
Avre; thence southeast through
Faverolles Piennes Rollot Cuvilly
and Ressons-Sur-Matz to vignemont.
German Retreat. Hasty.
The German retreat east Of Mont
didier is reported to be hasty, and it
Is said that large quantities Of war
material have been abandoned by the
retiring enemy. The territory over
which the Germans must retife affords
few good defensive positions west Of
the Noyon-Nesles canal and the
Somme river after It has turned south
near Peronne. It is not believed in
London that the Germans will attempt
organized resistance west OF this line.
Nothing is said in dispatches this
morning of the situation in Flanders.
where it was reported yesterday that
the Germans were retiring from the
extreme side Of the Lys salient There
are NO new reports Of events along
~ veaDe and Aisna. :