Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-05
|llMANS RETIRE
N BRITISH FRONT
iet Withdrawal From AL.
bert Is Discovered by
Patrols
RIONEERS ARE CAPTURED
Armies Observe Wars Ami.
yersary by Special Services
as Airplanes Watch
Rx H. ". NEyINsoN

II Correspondents Headquarters
b France, Aug. 5.
Every one here is in good spirits
diving to the Allied success on the
4 aolssons. front. but the British
hutts have not been idle. The end OF
q TIE week was marked by consider
X eble success on the course of the Ancre
Heiow Albert, and here also the Ger
\ shlns have been compelled to with
dt{w.
v It will be remembered that during
Y th&ir great advance toward Amiens
Z ltst March they seized Albert and oc-
! dlpied the right bank OF the Ancre
fiotth and south of the city. 1t will
laao be remembered that last Sunday
the Australians forced them TO with
dF&w for considerable distance along
thu high peninsula inclosed between
I th{ Somme and the lower reaches of
{ tk& Ancre, where 1t turns southwest
- meet the Somme at Corble
Their present retirement may be re.
sBtded as a continuation of that move
(
ITS Significance be easily understood
NTH map. Two German divisions,
o1nk of which was the Fifty-fourth
Wbrtenbergers, were holding the
Western slopes Of the Ancre between
Albert and Bernancourt. where the lit
\ tleI river. after running due south,
& netins to turn southwest. Their front
fjnes lay along the slopes rising from
tht river, but the chief roads of their
supply and communication from the
Nth ground on the opposite bank
we're exposed to indirect fire from the
Hrltish heavy guns.
Patrols Discover Retreat
am told that the retreat was dis
cpfered by British patrols in the
fP}ghborhood of Albert, who captured
a Few prisoners and found that all
M4e pioneers. Some of these con-
fdsed that they had been left behind
~ plow up dumps, bridges and so on
9fHr the division had been retired on
kFtday. The British troops found the
ePfmys position west of the Ancre
ePfndoned, though machine gun crews
least remained in Albert and the
4Ation in Aveluy Wood, north of
4leert, was doubtful.
Paturday afternoon from the front
& 9Ilng to the heavy rains, was able to
4qk down into the valley of the Ancre
3E ruined villages of Bernancourt and
"a ylre-sur-Ancre are now entirely de-
4teo. Albert was hidden by rise In
NY ground, though hardly two miles
tne left, but on the left front the
ight road to Bapaume was quite
iItmct On the right was the little
YFd where Contamination once stood.
Yi4ces famous and consecrated by the
14tcry of the war.
Youthward, across the river, on the So
sped peninsula, between II and the
ofnme, the enemy still holds the line
Y4ough Norlancourt to Sally Laurette,
4af not a German Is now west of the
4Hre and Sunday morning we heard
F4t Albert is entirely evacuated The
PYn is reported to be ruined and
Feled to pieces, since the statue Of
M Virgin, SO long leaning from the
chtrch tower, fell
li No Germans and few trenches were
pile upon the opposite or eastern,
fqe OF the river valley and persistent
antliing of parts of the British front
llne overlooking the river and remains
90 Ithe railway was the only sign of his
rf3sence.
Observe Wars Anniversary
sunday morning the anniversary of
4 tp4 wars beginning was celebrated with
p4cial services at or near the head
q pArters of the armies l attended n
ue4vtce held in large wooded park of
6410f the chateau so numerous in this
tt Of France
Large detachments of divisions of
xftiDh and allied armies were mustered
ppm large open space surrounded by
4e9 Watchful airplanes buzzed over
An army commander delivered
ny address to the troops. a bishop
Ffached. familiar hymns were sung
r4yers were said by the clergy of
yaf3ous denominations, and the cere-
4 t9dny concluded with the march past of
~ the troops in fours.
An interesting order has been pub
l}sned by General Won Quasi, command
ihe the Sixth German army.
f II observes the steady deterioration OF
4itctpline, which 1t attributes to the du
Aation of the war 1t complains that
lAfgs numbers of light sentences have
reAn passed, too often revealing mis-
Il4ced clemency in courts-martial II
No11nArks upon unsoldierly bearing of men
GbFard their superiors and the slack
C3oonj of saluting officers on foot or in
= x also observes that officers often for
< ~ their duty of returning salutes, and
4D upon men TO crop the habit, bor-
SbFed from the French, of keeping their
4Ajnds In their pockets
\ similar order, issued a few weeks
sgp, was interpreted by some people in
EHgland as evidence of a DELAYED peace
ff4r. but there is no reason to suppose
thtt either of the orders was promul-
6nfed with any such design. Rather
= 6h{y are evidence of WEAKNESS and dis
L6Dtragement among the rank and file,
1ueh as always show themselves in
&hfelessness about saluting and general
Xebevior.