Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-22
mt. The British now are in tina,
zoe Strikes Back

i artillery Is said to have been very ac'
tive during the night and to be con
tinuing its heavy fire this morning.
The battle north of the Ancre
River ragged furiously throughout the
night and this morning. and the Brit
fish troops, after overcoming the most
desperate enemy resistance, are hold
ing all their positions.
The Germans, by flinging in large
numbers of troops, at last reports had
come back to the western part of
Achret-le.Grand, but this appears to
have been done a number of times.
Beauregard and Dovecote apparent.
" now are held by the British. South
/of here the British also hold "A section
of the railway. Every inch of the
Arras. Bapaume railway enbankment
in the north has been fought for, the
Germans regarding this as the most
important position of the battlefront.
Germans EntrenChed
The Germans were strongly en-
trenched on "A line running through
Hamelincourt, just east of the railroad
embanlxment and they had to be reck-
oned with, whiin the Germans holding
out on the embankment itself from
dugouts and deep ground positions
had to be bombed before they were ST.
fenced
The Germans appear to have rushed
troops into action in the Bapaume re-
gion. Last night Entente airInen said
the road north from Peronne was filled
with transports. while the road he
tween Bapaume and Bihucourt was
congested.
British patrols which crossed the
Ancre River between Albert and the
southern end of yesterdays battle
front found apparently strong forces
there. Thiepval ridge especially is
strongly held by the enemy. and be
tween there and Mraumont, patrols
have been heavily fired on by German
machine gunners stationed on the east
bank of the river.
Both the British and German artil
leries were pounding away north OF
the Ancre this morning. The German
guns were heavily shelling AChiet-le.
Grand. The British guns were CON
centrating their fire on the roads near
vital spots in the enemy defenses and
shellng out Germans either intrenched
east of the railroad or trying to dig
in. The Germans have counter-at.
tackled at many places several times
but except at the south, have got
nowhere.
In the Flanders battle area the Brit
ish last night attacked and captured
German position north of Bailleul
according to advices from the front
today. 1t is announced that a strone
local counter-attack made yesterday
morning against the LoCrc HospiCt
was repulsed after heavinC fightina
and that sharp combats took place
during the night in this sector.
British troops have reached the vii
lage of Neuf Berquin. northeast o1
Merville, in the Lys salient in Flanders
General Haig reports.
By the Associated Press
Paris, Aug. 22.-German troops were
forced back over a twenty from
from Lassigny to the Ailette River
to a depth of from one to two mile.
during the night. according to the of
fetal statement issued at the Wa
Office today. Four villaGes-Le Pie
mont, Thiescourt, Cannectancourt ant
who have reached the Divette River.
The French have reached the Disc
on a six-mile front east of NoyOn
their line extending from Sempigny tC
Bretigny.
Further east the VILLAGES of Bour
guignon and st. PaulauX-Bois CeIe , er
miles northwest have been taken. The
French reached the Ailette River a
La Quincy-Basse. rThis shows a tota
The western outskirts of Pommiers
on the Aisne west of scissors. hav,
also been taken.
Dispatches from the front say
French troops have reached tn,
Ailette River at several points. II i!
not expected that the Germans will
try to hold the Ailette line but ma,
retreat to the Disc.
General Humbert's army has mad
/ a great advance between the Mat
and the Oise rivers. The French mill
tary men say this makes the earl,
fall Of the town of Noyon inevitable
\ By the United Press
Paris, Aug. 22.-Noyon is rapid
being enveloped. 1t is now outtianke
from the east. At some places tn
French are within a few hundre
yards of the town. French troops ar
ready to cross the Disc Canal, whic
they have reached, between Faresne
and MorlincOurt IA mile and a ha
southeast of Noyon).
The Divette River is entirely in III
hands of the French.
Mapgin's men are nearing Man
camp (at the junction of the Disc an
Ailette Rivers. seven miles east {
Noyonl.
Allied aviators, bombing enem
areas beyond NOYon, report conside
able disorder and apparent prepare
tions for a big retirement.
In the last fOrty-eight hours Il
French have taken more than Is ,0t
prisoners and vast quantity of m
terial, including thousands of machiI
guns and hundreds of cannon.
After taking Lassigny the FrenC
&. passed beyond in the direction of Il
VaLchelles Ia mile and a half west
Noyonl They have reached Lame
and Mont La Bache and possess Mo-
Choisy, dominating the Disc.
BY the Associated Press
Berlin, Aug. 20 Announcement
made in an official statement fro
German headquarters that since A
gust more than 500 Allied tanks h;
been taken or destroyed on the bait
Rald har ha nd ",