The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-08-16

London, Aug. 16-With the fighting
between the Somme and the Disc sim
mered down to artillery duels ana To-
cal operations the allied capitals
chiefly are concerned with speculation
as to where Marshal Foch will build
the floor for the next Hindenburg
dance. And if the Allies are looking
forward to this event with thrilled ex-
pectancy the Central Empires, unless
all signs are misleading, are anticipat-
ing it with dread.
AS to the battle front, the British
moved forward in two place yesterday
| northwest of Roye where they moved
into the villages of Damery and Par
villers, in spite of German opposition,
and north Of the Somme, between AL
| bert and Arras, where the enemy fell
back, apparently on his own accord.
Further south the French captured
positions on both sides of Lassigny as
a prelude to what is expected to be the
taking of that town.
! Moth of the Somme, in the Arras
region, the Germans were pushed out
of some towns and voluntarily remov-
ed themselves from others. Beau
| ilIOAlL-1Iel1I4Sl1 SCIlSg DuSluOy anu
Puisieux-au-Monk are nov in British
hands. At some points the Germans
fell back across the Ancre river, with
the British following closely Great
interest attaches to the enemy move
ments on this front, great activity
having been noted on the German
side of the lines for several days. The
enemy expected an attack here, and
prepared for it; knowledge of which
may have led Marshal Foch to change
his plans, if he had any, regarding q
thrust there.
) The Germans, by retreating, virtual.
} Iy wiped out what has long beer
known as the Hebuterne salient, anC
now they will be compelled to estab
lish q whole new line between the
Somme and Arras. The fact tina
Gen. Won Boehn, known as the Ger
man retreat specialist" has beer
: placed in command on the Sommt
front indicates an intention on the
part of the enemy to move back ovel
wide area.
Gen. Humbert is taking his TIM
around Lassigny probably wishing tt
let the factor of time accomplish TO
|
l only by the expenditure of lives. H
is working his way into the German
= machine gun positions along the DIS
, Valley by infiltration rather than b.
4 attempting to clear them out b.
), storm. Meanwhile he is repairing
t the roads back of his present lin
preparatory to moving up his heav
guns With these in position he cal
< tory west and south of Noyon wit
l the loss of few men and at the sam
e time infhct heavy losses on the en-
q envy.
Allied airplanes are reported busfe
: than at any time since the war start
= ed, and they are making all the Gel
= man communications a veritable ir
Q ferno.
n Tons of bombs are droppSI night
on the German concentration centre
by allied bombing machines, Will
= the French and British combt
d planes, swarming in the skies liz
IT bees, effectually prevent the enem
d from ascertaining what is going c
l. back of their lines.
d The JOB of counting the prisone
If taken in the Picardy battle has bee
. completed and the bag totals 34,0(
t. with $40 guns. This is exclusive
. vast stores of war materials.
s. Now that the heavy fighting on tn
1t front is over the French and BIRTHS
lie are congratulating themselves on Il
lie great work accomplished by the
L. tanks, while at least one of the mai
German officers captured is at a cor
as plete loss to understand how it ha
to pened that the "infallible" Germ;
err high command overlooked or unde
is estimated the value of this weapo
In This officer told his captors that t
oy allied tanks had made themselves o
hit fsects OF terror to the German soldie
and he expressed wonder that his on
en- high command had not seen fit to U
ID them IN greater numbers,