The state herald., 1918-08-16
ALLIES TAKE $4,000 PRISONERS,
INCLUDING 1000 OFFICERS
AND OVER 500 GUNS.
CHAULNES IS CAPTURED
FRENCH TAKE MoNTOlDlER, AND
FocH BLOWS UP BRIDGES
ON SoMME.


With the American Army in France.
Aug. l2.-The first American field
army has been organized. 1t is under
the direct command OF Gen, John j.
Pershing, commander III chief OF the
American forces. The corps com
manders thus iar announced are Maj
Generals. Liggett, Buliard, Bunny,
Reed and Wngut. The creation OF the
first field army is the first step to.
ward the coordination OF all the
American forces in France.
Paris, Aug. 12.-The number of pris-
oners taken so far in the allied often.
sive in Picardy is now estimated at
$4,000, including more than 1000 Off
GERS. More than 500 guns have been
captured, according to the latest au-
vices.
London, Aug. 12-Chaulnes. the i'm
portant railway town in the heart Of
the Somme battle front and the key to
the southern line OF the German sa-
iient, has been captured by the allies.
The capture was effected by Austral-
ian and Canadian troops.
The French have driven the Ger
mans before them for an important
gain east of Montdidier, in Picardy.
That city. which was the apex of the
German salient that has now been
wiped out, fell to the French First
army at midday Saturday.
The Germans have materially stiff
ened their defense against the British,
and French troops on the
Picardy battle front, but they have
been unable to stem the tide.
Although the forward push of the
allies has been slowed down. they have
made important progress from the
north OF the Somme, where the Amer
leans and British are fighting to-
gether. to the northern bank OF the
Disc, held by the French.
Americans and British are pressing
closely upon Braye-Sur-Somme. aided
by tanks and armored cars.
Across the river the Germans heav.
lily engaged the British at Lihons and
Its vicinity. and at one point pierced
the British line and gained tho out.
skirts Of Lihons. A counter attack rs-
stored the British line and the enemy
retired to positions east and north.
Unofficial reports credit the British
with entering Chaulnes and the Brit.
ish cavalry with notable advance.
The greater progress has been made
by the French from the region immedi.
ately southwest Of Roye to the Disc
river. Here they have driven their
line we'll across the ye-Compeigne
road. and at Cambronne have reached
the road leading from Compeigne to
Noyon. Since the capture OF Montdi.
dier the French have penetrated east.
ward to Tilloly, a distance Of about
seven miles. and to Canny. Sur. .Matz.
more than eight and half miles. and
through the hilly region southward to
the Oise have averaged gains exceed.
ing six miles over front OF twelve
miles.
Tho stiffenins OF the German de-
fcnse does not, In the minds of observ.
ers on the battle front, Indicate that
the retreat of the enemy has ended.
Rather. It is assumed. that these man.
euvers are similar to those carried out
over the Marne front.
Ayiators have destroyed all the
bridges across the Somme from the re.
gion OF Peronne southwark. and with
the cnemy's communicating lines
either In the hands OF the allies or
dominated by their guns. the retro.
grade movement necessarily must be
slow.
The allied troops are encircling
Roye. and It's capture. which seems i'm.
mincnt. viii greatly helghten the dif.
ficulties OF the Germans.
Intensive air fighting Is proceeding &
over the battle line. In Fridays bat.
ties thirty.ninc German machines were
destroyed and twenty-five driven down
out OF control. The British war OF,
flee acknowledges that twenty.th
British machines are missing.