Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-08-13
BEATING THEM BACK
Allies Now Have Germans in Very
Close Quarters.

BEATING THEM BACK
Allies Now Have Germans in Very
Close Quarters.
Operations have been moving fast
and furiously since last Thursday, both
on the Somme and Vesle fronts, and
the Germans have been getting pun
ishment the like Of which they have
not experienced before during this
war.
Montdidier fell to the British and
French on Saturday, and along with II
thousands Of prisoners and guns. ana
on Saturday the Australians and can
adams took the important railroad
center OF ChauIncs. leaving the enemy
entirely cut OFT from communications
in his operations to the south and east
OF his main lines
ALain interest Is now rrntcrinS IN
two great operations. continuance OF
the great offensive that was commenc-
ed July IS. now proceeding north from
the yesle river to the Aisne river In
the direction OF the Hindenhurg ine.
and the drive Of Gen. Haig, that has
taken on accelerated speed since last
Thursday. The main German armies
are now along the Somme to the east
OF Amicns. and to the north or the
Vcslc. with the British and Frenrh
hammcring them from the west ami
the French and Americans hammcring
from the south.
German resistance has stiffcned cor
siderably to the north OF the Nesic r'-
cr: but. the French and Americans are
still advancing steadily. while the BRIT
ish and French are proceeding with
greater speed from the west over
Montdidicr. Chaulnos and other ina
portant supply centres toward the east.
The Germans have materially Stin-
cncd their defense against the British,
American and French troops OF the Pi-
cardy front. but they have been una
bic tu stem the tide of advance against
them.
Although the iorwi ri push Of the NJ
lies has been slowed down somewhat.
nevertheless they have made further
important progress from the north oi
the Somme river where the Americans
and British are fighting together to the
northern bank of the OiSr where the
French troops are engaging the enemy.
The Americans and their British
brothers i'm arms at last accounts were
pressing closely upon Bray SOM
me. aided by tanks and armored cars,
which inflicted heavy casualties on the
enemy rs he advanced to retard their
progress.
Across the river the Germans hrari-
ily engaged the British at Lihons and
I'm its vicinity and at one point pierced
the British line and gained the out
skirts of Lihons. counterattack.
however. entirely restored the BRITISH
line and the enemy retired To positions
east and north OF the village. Unof-
fetal reports from London credited the
British with entering Chaulnes and
British cavalry with n penetration or
the encmy's territory almost TO Neslcs.
These reports. however. have received
no official confirmation.
BY far the greatest progress mas
been made by the French from the re-
gion Immediately southwest and south
of Royc to the disc river Here they
have driven their line well across IN"
Ruyc- -Compegnc road a:,d ut Cam
brunnc have reached the road Leading:
from compicgne TO Noyon. Since IN"
capture Of Montdidicr the French nav"
penetrated eastward To Tlllotoy, Il us
tlncc of about seven miles ana 10
Canny-sur MatZ. more than eight ana
Il half miles and through the hilly re-
:sion Southward 10 tn" plSr nave aver
aged gains exceeding six miles over Il
front of twelve miles. The stiffeninH
OF the German defense does not In the
minds of observers OH the battle front,
Indicate the retreat o1 the enemy has
ended. Rather II Is assumed these
maneuvers are similar To those carried
out over the Marnc front, when strong
rear guards covered the retirement OF
the crown princes armies northward.
The smoke Of large fires continues To
be seen far behind the cncmy's lines
and the movement Of long transport
columns eastward is considered evil
dencc that it is the intention OF the en-
emy ultimately to retreat to new lines
of defense. Aviators have destroyed
all the bridges across the Somme from
the region Of Peronne southwark ana
with the enemys communicating lines
either in the hands OF the Allies or
dominated by their guns the retro
grade movement necessarily must DC
slow.
Therefore strong rear guard actions
are required TO save large numbers of
men and guns and enormous quantities
Of stores from capture. The Allied
troops gradual! are cncircling RnN'
and its capture, which now seems I'M
minent. will greatly nciGhten the dif-
fcultics Of the Germans In FALLING
back.
Intensive air lighting Is Proceeding
over the battle line. In Fridays bat
the 80 German machines were dr-
stroyed and 22 driven down out OF
control. The British war office ar-
knuwlcdges that ~ British machines
arc missing.
Reports bring the number of prison
ers by the Allies up to $4,000 and the
number of guns captured to more than
500.
on the veslc front the Germans on
the north side Of the stream are re-
ported to be entrcnching and string
ing barbcd wires over the territory
where they are facing the French ami
Americans.