Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1918-08-15
British and French Begin New
Offensive Between Albert
and MOntdidier.
HAIG DIRECTS The DRIVE
Allies Force Crossing Of the VesIe Riv-
er In Face of Strong Resistance
Plans for Siberian Expedition
March States American
Army Program.
BY EDWARD w. PlcKARD.

Having thoroughly whipped the
armies Of the German crown prince
and driven them back beyond the
VesIe river. -T6ch, now n marshai Of
France, turned his attention in the
middle Of the week to the forces I'M
der the Bavarian crown prince. Rup-
precht. At dawn on Thursday the Brit
lsh Fourth army and the French First
army under command of Field Mar
shal Haig, began nm offensive on a
wide front In the region east and south
east Of Amiens. The front under at
tack was about twenty-eight miles in
length. from Albert south to the vicln-
ity Of Montdidier.
Within "a hours the allied forces had
penetrated the enemy lines to points
from six to seven miles beyond the start,
had taken more than 10000 prisoners
and great quantities Of material and
many guns, and had occupied numerous
towns Their own losses were remark
ably light. Tanks led the infantry in
the attack and did wonderfully good
work.
Complete success in this offensive
would result in obllterating the Ger
man salient in the iiontdldier region
and would lmperll the entire Hun line
from Relms to YpreS. The Germans
seem to have anticipated this move
ment by the allies and some days prev
iously withdrew their forces there and
In other sectors to stronger positions,
Progress by the allies here carries
them into the Plcardy country which
was ravaged by the Germans In their
retreat of March, 1917, and again de-
vastated by them when they drove for
ward this year.
III
The defeated but not dlsorganlzed
Huns between SolSsonS and Reims, rs
was predicted, gathered their strength
for n pause In their retreat between
the vesle and the AlSnc. Their guns
were brought into play from the plat
eau In that region which commands
the vesle valley. The Germans, in
deed, made strenuous attempts to pre-
vent the French and Americans from
crossing the Vesle, especially in the
vicinity Of Fismes, but numerous rcla.
lively small units forced the crossings
and held onto their new positions de-
spite furious cOunter-OttackS, These
operations were mostly between
BralSne and FiSmes. Up to tho close
Of the week Marshal Foch had not
tried to send any very large forces
across the river, probably waiting un'
I'll his artillery could drive the Huns
from the nearer hills to the north
The Germans were using only medium
callber guns. which was taken to mean
that their heavier artillery was being
placed north of the ASne to defend
that line; for there seemed little doubt
that they would he forced that fal
north before very long. Their position
south Of the Aisne was said to he real
ly untenable though seemingly strong
At the west end of the line the FHencl
and Americans wer, steadily pushing
east along the AiSne, and at the eas
end Immediately north Of ReimS th,
French made considerable advance be
tween the railways running to La0l
and Rcthel.
The city Of FismcS, which was Sc
galMntly taken by the Americans, wa
as calamity heh against all attacks
though the Germans deluged II will
explosive and gas shells, The machin,
gun and rifle fire Of the Yankees wa
so accurate as to arouse the udmira
tion Of their allies,
M
Activity increased during the weel
- A.. 4 -. ..tkt.l "a. N