New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-12
Germans Flee
Headlong for
Son1ne Line
Entire Defence of Foe in
Montdidier Salient
Collapses
By Arthur S. Draper
tBu Cable to The Tr;bune)

Copyright. 1918 by The Tribune Association)
LONDON Aug. 1.-THE Anglo
French push on the Somme front has
now become straight ahead drive in
which the divisions of the Grown Prince
and those of Prince Rupprecht of Ba-
varia are fleeing for safety to the line
Of the Somme and the Nesle and Noyon
Canal. The entire German defence in
the Montdidier salient has collapsed.
Between the Ancre and Disc the Al
lies have driven hole in the German
line with width Of fifty miles. With
in the area between these rivers many
hundreds of Allied tanks are ambling
about, smashing machine gun nests.
Staying the foe wholesale and taking
thousands of prisoners. while cavalry
squadrons are careering to and fro, re-
connoitring and cutting up enemy de-
tachments. Behind the tanks and the
horsemen follow Allied infantry in
waves, "mopping up" the enemy rear
guards and weaving the somewhat
patchlike advance of the tanks and
cavalry into the solid infantry line.
Chaulncs and Roye Passed
Allied mounted forces and tanks now
have pushed fully fifteen miles into
enemy territory from the original line.
According to latest reports, they have
passed both Chaulnes and Roye. Ai~-
men tell of tremendous confusion be-
hind the German lines. Enemy troops
and material assembled on fifty-mile
front in the Montdidier bulge have
been compelled to withdraw through a
gap not more than thirty miles as the
crow flies.
Before the Allied offensive comes to
a halt many more German prisoners
and guns are likely to have been taken
The total now is more than 10000 pris-
oncrs and 500 cannon
The northern section of Won Hutier's
army between the Somme and Roye is
falling back upon the curve of the
Somme River. 1t is expected the Ger
mans will send in great bodies of re-
Inducements from the Peronne sector
and make desperate effort to hold up
the Allied advance here while the bulk
of their troops and material are being
withdrawn over the river.
The Germans between Roye and the
Disc also are in dire difficulty, being
greatly hampered by lack of good
roads.
Pocket Nearly Flattened Out
Interest now centres chiefly upon the
success of the Allied wings. Entente
forces have now nearly fattened out
the enemy pocket between the Ancre
and the Disc, and if Foch plans his
operations on large scale further in
teresting developments cannot be de-
layed.
One Of the possibilities is the extern
sion of the battlefront northward to
Arras. Another might consist of an
extension southwark and eastward to
Scissors. A successful attack on
either Of these fronts might set the
entire German line rocking from
Rheims to the sea.
The possible extension of the battle
between the Disc and Scissors would
mean an advance aimed at turning the
Chemin des Danes line north of the
Asne, toward which the Germans be-
tween Rheims and scissors on the
Vesle may shortly be compelled to re-
treat.
Great havoc would result in the Ger
man defence if this line vas turned
Just when a shelter had been prepared
for the retreating troops. Future de-
velopments of the present battle de-
pend largely upon whether Foch's army
equals the German in numbers and
freshness.
Offensive Tactics Less Costly.
SO long as Foch keeps the initiative.
any superiority on the Allied side is
bound to increase. for in modern bat
Continued on pdqe three