The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-08-09
Brilliant Coup of Allies a Complete
 Surprise to Huns
(Continued From Page One)

T farthest east reached by the British up to late Thursday, is seven miles from the Peronne-Roy road. North of the Somme the British have had to fight hard for tlieir gains and the same has been true of the French advance across the Avre. Once across the Avre, however, the French moved forward rapidly. The Peron- ine-Roye road with It's parallel line of railroad runs north and south, east of the advascing Allied line, which is bisected by the Amfens-Laron rail road. It is the main enemy com munication line. With this in al- He'd hands, or even under short ar ,tillery range, the German positions north to Arras and south and east almost to Rheims would be in great danger. Montdidier, the pillar of the German positions where the battle front swings towards the east is sur rounded on three sides.
 Along the Vesle there has been lit tie change in the situation. The Franco American pressure continu eS and substantial forces are reported to be across the Vesle ready to con- Itinue the advance northward. The German position here depends some what, although not entirely, on the situation in Picardy. It is not yet in danger of being outfianked, but unless the Allies are checked prompt .ly in the north a retreat to north of the Aisne would appear to be inevita- ,ble.
 In northern Russia the Allied troops landed at Archangel are moving southward along the Vologda rail- road The Bolsheviki, aided by some German units, have retired to seventy miles south of Archangel.
 With the British Army in France, Aug. 9-The Germans are blowing up their ammunition dumps In the battle area This is considered an indica- ton that they are preparing for re- treat.
 The British casualties since the be- lginning of the present drive are but lthree-fifths of the number of prisoners Icounted up to 3 o'clock this afternoon.
 With the British Army in France, Aug. 9-(By the Associated Press)- Allied airmen have blown up many of the bridges over the Somme river and the enemys retreat is seriously em- barrassed. The British cavalry has rounded up many prisoners but the larger part of the 14 1000 so far taken were captured by Australians and Canadians.
 An enormous quantity of stores and ammunition has been abandoned by the Germans in their nasty retreat.
 With the British Army in France Aug. 9-Cavalry patrols accompa. nied by swift "whippet" tanks, are reported by airmen far out ahead >oi the infantry advance. The infantry at many places was apparently check ed only by sheer physical inability tc push any farther.
 This afternoon the enemy's trans port lorries have been rallying alont the few good roads left in the Somn,t valley. They afforded excellent tar gets for alrmen who played havot with the escaping conveys and speed fly filtered the roads so that the. were impossible,
 
 Aug. J-(By the Associated Press,- British cavalry and some lnfantr, were signalled in the neighborhood O Chaulnes this morning. When las heard from directly they. togethe with armored cars, were operatin back of FramerVille, and now hay progressed many kilometres beyon continuing the cleaning up of tn country and capturing villages.
 London, Aug. g, Battle Front-(B the Associated Press) - More tha 17,000 prisoners had been captured b the Allies in the Somme drive up t noon today according to advices thi afternoon. More than 200 guns als have been taken.
 It is reported, that a German di Visional general has been captured i the drive.