Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-07-20
ALLIES SMASH Still ON

About Eighteen Thousand Prisoners
and Hundreds of Cannon Captured
by French and American Troops.
Washington, July 20.-While no an
nouncement of the capture of the city
! of Scissors has reached the War De-
partment, Secretary Baker said to-
day that the fall of that city seems
to be indicated by dispatches.
Entente allied troops today are
! driving back the Germans on the
southern bank of the River Marne
and are now approaching the river
embankments.
Official reports to the War Depart
ment. General March told newspaper
men today at the weekly conference,
showed a maximum penetration by the
Franco-American counter attack of
ten miles and an average penetration
on a twentv-two-mil front of seven
miles.
During his interview General
March disclosed the fact that the
embarkation of American troops has
passed the 100000 mark.
Paris, July 20.-More than 1900
prisoners have been taken by the
French and Americans, the war Office
announced last night.
Among the prisoners are two Ger
man colonels with their Staffs.
The Franco American troops have
captured $50 cannon, including a bat
terry of 2l0 caliber guns.
Ordinarily at least ten times the
number of prisoners goes with such a
staggering total Of captured guns.
Thursday and yesterday saw, there
fore. a process of German killing such
as has not occurred since Verdun.
Scissors, in flames and surrounded
from three sides, was virtually in
Franco American hands last night.
They can enter 1t any time they want.
The number of prisoners taken up
20 early yesterday evening is now re-
ported on good authority to approach
the $4,000 mark.
There is a strong impression that
scissors has fallen, though this is not
vet officially confirmed. Late dis
patches indicate, however, that the
Germans were getting out of the burn
ing city in the afternoon.
London. July 20.-Scottish troops
captured the village of Meteren, to-
gether with more than 300 prisoners
and number of machine guns, in an
operation in the Bailleul. ,sectsr, yes
:erday morning, according o'the Of I; /;
fetal report from Field Marshal
Haig's headquarters in France last /;
night. = !
Australian troops. advanced to /
short distance south of Meteren and
took eighty prisoners and ten machine
guns, the report adds.
German raids Thursday night in the
villers- -Bretonneux and cMorlancourt:
sectars on either side Of the Somme
were driven off by the British. .said
the official statement from Field Mar
shall Haig yesterday. The British
captured few prisoners in success
ful raids in the regions Of Buzduoy,
Willerval and Locre.
Washington, July 20. - American
troops. side by side with the FRENCH
continue to sweep forward to new,
victories.
There is no longer question that
the tide of the war has turned. -,
scissors is believed by American
and entente military experts: to have
fallen. :
Approximately 10000 prisoners
have been taken, the unotficlal re-
,orts TO the entente embassies lndi-
cate.
Press reports from Paris to the
offact that the Germans are now
everywhere. on tn defensive are ac-
cented literally in military circles.
Many experts are prepared to be-
,ieve that Yesterdays successful at
tack by the British on Villers-Breeon-
neux. reported in the news dispatches
INIT not vet officially confirmed, pres
aces \ larger British offensive soon to
start.