Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-08-12

tBy The AssociAtsd Press)

Noyon line. the Germans.
by reserves, are fighting
bitter to stop the Allied advance and.
prevent q prob&ble disaSter to their
arms. south Of the Somme the Brit
Ish have Jbeen slowed up. but around
the French continue to press
on for good gains.
Heavy counter attacks are being
the Germans against the
front from east of Morlan-
court to the vicinity Of Lihons, west
Of Chaulhes. Field Marshal HAis's
men apparently have made little
their pressure has not slackeAed.
On the southern end Of the battle
field the French have carried out an
front of. about fifteen miles and
threaten seriously the German hold
Roye, Lassigny aud Noyon. Here
also the German .resi0tAncA' IL grow
ing sitter.
Apparently the German command
u determined for the moment to
make the Allies fight hard for further
Meanwhile the retirement
from the southern end Of the front
continues and the Germans attempt
to stand may be only for the purpose
Of preventing the complete rout OF
General Won Hutier's army which re-
treated from the Montdtdier salient
early Saturday. Aviators report
heavy movements Of troops and
toward the east.
German attacks have been strong
and repeated around Lihons. The
enemy forced his way into the west
ern side Of the village. but later was
driven out. The British positions
were maintained after hard tighting.
Seemingly the. German purpose here
is to protect the railroad junction at
through which all the
troops from the. Roye region must
pass. However, the railroad is at no
point more than three miles from the
Allied line from northwest of Chaul-
nes to southwest Of Roye, the most
important section of the line from a
German standpoint. BY striving to
hold the British, the Germans also
protect the pocket which was begin
ming to grow unsafe. between the
Somme and Arras.
All the railroad lines leading out OF
Roye r now within easy cannon
range of the Allied guns and French
troops are at Andechy. three miles to
the west and within less than -four
~ AAC .
have crossed tho last barrier Of hills
Lazsigny, between Roye and Noyon
is within two ana one-half miles OF
the French on the west and south. II
is an important position south Of
Noyon. The French are hghting theil
way up the Disc and are within five
miles Of the town.
Noyon is important not only in 1t.
relation to the present battle line, hu'
to the German position eastward to
ward Rheims and the enemy is fight
ing desperately to stay the French
advance toward it. The fall Of Noyor
undoubtedly would, compel 9 rear.
rangement Of the enemy line east
ward.
Unoficially, the Allies have taker
10000 prisoners and 100 guns. Sine
the. beginning Of the German often.
day the enemy has lost nearly 5000
prisoners inc over 1900 guns.
Berlin reports the fighting as grow
ing more bitter and says that Sunda.
all Allied efforts failed. One Ger
man newspaper calls the present, bat
tie the FIRST serious defeat Of tn
war" =
between Scissors ana Rheims tn
Germans are apparently prepared t
hold fast and the French and Ameri
cans are making no attacks in force
The German artillery fire has beel
much heavier. Enemy preparation
for an attack Sunday were stopped b,
American artillery fire. The, frs
American field army has been organ
ICED with five corps under the com
mander' under General Pershing.
Linine and Trotzky, rulers Of Rus
STA since last November. according t,
German sources. have fled from Mos
COW to the naval base at Kronstadt
near P~etrograd. There is; no con
f1rmation from other sources. Fear
revolutionists. the German ambassa
dor at Moscow Is fleeing to Pskoy
within the German lines in Estonta.
en- nra1c IN M xcxumn er CRY