The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-08-12
FRENCH WIN MANY TOWNS
AND GAIN MUCH GROUND

trOODS captured the entire massive
chain of hills of BOulOgne-La Grasse
and penetrated to the east of Bus, six
and one-half miles east of Montdidier.
Farther south the French have pen
etrated the wooded area between the
rivers Matz and Disc, reaching In this
region the environs of La BerE gre and
Curry.
Moreuil-Lamotte has been captured
and the French line pushed two miles
to the north of Chevrincourt.
Between Arras and Albert the enemy
is showing signs of great anxiety and
apparently is anticipating a wide ex-
tension of the fighting front to the
north.
German local attack north Of
KENNEL on the Flanders front, was
repused after sharp fighting.
Chaulnes, the key to the southern
line of the German salient was cap
tured by Australian and Canadian
troops. The fall Of Chaulnes Is said
to have followed desperate struggle
with strong German forces rushed up
to cover the retreat.
British Advance on Bray.
The British encountered fierce oppo-
sftion north Of the SOmme, but they
are now advancing down the long
slopes toward Bray, if they have not
already succeeded in reaching that
town.
At nOOp tho al1io6 limo woe fol-
lows, starting from the north: West of
Meaulte which is still in German
hands; thence to Etinhem, Framerville
and LihOns, which are still German;
Hallu station (the Germans hold Hal
lu) Parvillers, L'Eschelle and Arman-
court. and thence through Tilloloy
Park and through the station of Roye-
sur-Matz to Mareuil-Lamotte to Sam
son and Machemont, from which 1t
joins the line on the Disc.
Foe Calls Reserves.
The enemy apparently is calling on
his reserves to help him save all ma
terial possible
The pivot of the German resistance
at this stage of the battle, it now ap-
pears, is Noyon, about midway be-
tween Montdidier and Scissors.
The enemy is throwing in reserves
from this b.se to prevent, regardless
of cost, the allies from gaining control
Of the NoyonHam road, which is
choked with material, guns and troops.
Try to Cover Flight.
The Germans are expected to make
a desperate stand on the Roye-Noyon
line to permit the columns retreatlng
in the direction of Nesle and Ham to
reach safety.
| The resistance of the Germans Is
stiffening against the Fourth British
/ army under General Rawlinson. They
are reacting violently in the region of
Lihons, which changed hands twice
during the night, but which in the
morning was firmly held by the Brit
ish.
In the area before Vauvillers the
enemy has been supported by heavy
artillery, but farther south the
French First and Third armies have
advanced slightly, and in this neigh
|
to be too well supplied with artil-
lery.
Fires Behind Line.
Large fires and long transport col
umns in the enemy's back areas
strengthen the belief his heavy
cOunter-attacks against the British
are intended to afford time to evacu-
ate his stores.
| The allied casualties in the first
two days Of fighting were compara-
| lively light because the allies vir-
| tually ran through the German po-
sitions. But since Saturday the fight
| ing has been Of more severe char
acter.
All the morning reports show ex-
treme confusion among the enemy
| forces in their precipitate retreat
| Among the prisoners taken are
generals, colonels and officers of all
grades. Eleven divisions of Generals
Won Hutier and Won Marwitz have
been identified by prisoners taken