The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-08-12
ALLIES SMASH
ON AS ARMIES
OF ENEMY BACK
Chaulens Is Captured and Thousands
Of Prisoners Fall Into Hands
OF Offensive Army.


London, August 11-Chanlnes, the
important railway town in the heart,
of the Somme battlefront, and the key
to the southern line of the German
salient, has been captured by the AL
lies. The capture was effected by
Australian and Canadian troops.
The Allied forces continued their
victorious advance all along the line
last night and today, pushing in the
general direction of the upper reaches
of the Somme. They were smashing
the stiff resistance interposed by the
rear guards of the retreating Ger
mans, the bulk of whom, according
to reports considered reliable, are
fleeing in disorder. British cavalry
are reported this afternoon operating
close to the town of Nesle. (Nesle is
six miles southeast of Chaulnes.)
Many hours ago the British, French
and American troops had reached,
roughly, the old line held by the Ger
mans before their retirement to the
Hindenburg line. They have now
pushed beyond in many places.
Goyencourt, two miles to northwest
of Roye, is reported to have fallen to
British troops four hours ago. 9th
er British forces were on the front
of the lnes-Hattencourt and VII
lers-Les-Roye.
The Germans are retiring stub
bornly everywhere in the face of the
fire from the British guns, both rife
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 north
ern spur east of Chipilly, and Etine-
hem is well in their hands. Gressaire
wood had long since been cleared of
the enemy, the Allied forces passing
around the wood, which was reeking
with gas from many pockets.
DOlil llG pIlllSH anu AIIltIl-
cans were helped on their way by
tanks. At one place a tank contain
ing II volunteers rushed a strong enc
my 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. The Americans
in the fighting the past two hours had
| further losses, principally caused by
machine bullets, but their losses we're
no more than expected among troops
constantly delivering attacks against
the enemy who here put up probably
the stiffest resistance of any along
the line, realizing the Importance of
the positions which are now in the
hands of the British and American
forces.
A considerable number of addition
al prisoners were taken here and the
Germans suffered extremely heavy
losses Up to date 81 German divi-
sions have been in contact with the
Allied forces. OF these 81 have been
engaged 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 in the
fighting.
Large groups of prisoners, hungry,
thirsty and grimy and appearing thor
oughly disheartened, continue to ar
rive at the collecting cages. Among
the captured were five regimentry
commanders and ten battalion com
manders.
The number of prisoners taken so
far in the Allied offensive in Picardy
is now estimated at $4,000, including
more than 1000 officers. More than
500 guns have been captured, accord
I'M 10 kha IofA n1,