The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-08-29
NESLE ENTERED
Continued from Page one.)

slackcned this morning, when tho enc
my's artillery Of all caubers made
heavy fro from strong positions west
Of. tho canal.
After Chaulnes fol-, Gorlniecourt, to
tho north, and Septfours were taken by
the French, while later Grassy, BaiatFe,
Champion and Rotguse, between Nesle
and Roye, were captured and moro than
q score Of other villages occupied.
The battlefield the Germans have
abandoned presents q picture III dcVaSta-
ton and dcSolation that has not been
surpassed during the war. Royc ana
the villages roundabout have been quite
as thoroughly demolished as Montdldltr
and Moreuil. Evtn cemeteries have oceE
blown UP, tombstoncs smashed ano
graves opened. The names Of towns III
this region no longer have any other Sig
uiiicanCu than as rcmIniScencc ana
geographical designation. Thcy haFe
ceased TO exist as towns. Their sits
; are hardly recognizable for the intense
shclling has not only obiiterated streets
and defaccd boundary lines. bu:. has rem
dered the topography unrccognizaole an
many places.
The ruins abandoned by the Germans
previously were carefully filled "lth
mustard gas. For this reason Roye IS
still inaccessible for occupation.
The Germans were unable TO use all the
gas projectiIcS ,h.y brought 10 the pres
ent front and large dumps of thfm tc.i
into the French hands. They are now
being fired against the enemy from some
OF the hundreds Of German guns the
French First Army has taken since Au-
gust y.
The French Third army also attacked
this morning. occupying Dives and push
Ing eastward to Yauchcllcs, less than
half mile from Noyon, the fall 4
which appears 70 be only a question OF
hours, II tho French 80 elect.
With tho French In possession OF
Noyon, the Germans will have only their
positions to tho northeast, In the hills
along the otse, and In the northwest,
| on the west bank Of tho Canal du 1!ord
to protect their retreat to the forest
| Of st. Goba1n and tho Hindsnburg Line.
. Tt Is not considered possible that tho
German rotreat viii halt on tho oise,
80 close are tho French pressing t:-o
enemy. French patrols reached the re-
! gion Of Bethencourt this afternoon
1o6 STObb4nB "a WAC
River Somme In that region by tho
French troops would create the Eravest
menace to the safety Of tho enemy's
troops and material south Of the river.
This prospect explains the shcrinee OF
an immense quantity Of material In the
region between Roye and the canal in
order to accelerate tho retrograae
! movement, which in some plnces has
been 30 rapid that contact between tne
French advanced guards and tho euemy's
machine gun sections protecting the
! German roar has almost been broken
PARIS, Aug. 2S.--1n a swift advance
! today covering more than six miles ~
| certain points the French troops south
| of tho Somme recaptured forty Vilhges'
! tho war office announces tonight.
/ The left bank Of the Sommc has ben
reached between CIzancourt and Neslc
RS we'll as the west bank OF the Canal
| Du Nord between Ecsle and Noyon over
! the greater part Of rs course.
| American troops in the region o:
JuviGny rcpulscd numerous German
! countcr-attacks and broke up an enemy
attempt to cross the Fcsle south OF