Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-15
ABANDON POSITIONS
|. ALONG five MILES
NORTH OF ALBERT
Beaten Back by French Just
North Of
Disc.
TOWN OF RiBECOURT
CAPTURED BY POILUS
Capture of Lassigny and Terrain
Between Bray and Etinehem
Unof6cially Reported.
ENEMY RESISTANCE sTIFFENs
But Line South of Arras Will Ap-
parently Have to Be
Strengthened.
ENEMY RESISTANCE sTIFFENs
But Line South of Arrns Will Ap-
parcntly Have to Be
Strengthened.
TBy Associated .Press.1

North and south Of the Somme tho
Germans have lost further important
ground. In the former region tbey
nave evacuated their positions over
hve-mile front to the British north
OF Albert, while in the latter th.v
nave been beaten back in the hill and
wooded district just north of the Disc
River by the French.
German front-line trenches at Beau
mont. Hamel, Serre, Puisieux- Mont
and Bucquoy have been found unten-
able by the enemy in the face OF the
recent activity by the British all along
the line from Albert to Arras. while
the French have persevered in their
violent attacks against the Germans
on the sector which dominates the
lower portion Of the Picsrdy plain
and the Disc Valley. and have en-
croached further upon the LassiEny
massif and the Thiescourt plateau and
farther south have captured the i'm
rortant town of Ribecourt.
Unofficial reports have announced
the capture ofsLassisny. by the French
and Of all the German positions be-
tween the western outskirts of Bray
ur-Somme and Etinehem by the Aus
tralians There is, however. no Of
hCldl COnHrmatlOn or them.
GERMANS Still. IN POSSESSION
Or CHAULSES AND ROYE
From the Somnie to tho Disc, except
In the latter region. where the French
have made further gains. the Germans
seemingly have had further success in
holding back the allied troops and
still are in possession Of Chaulnes and
Roye. upon the capture Of which the
efforts OF the British and French have
been centered. On this central part
OF the battle front the enemy con-
tinues to deliver violent counterattacks
and also has further REINFORCED his
line with men and guns and Is using
them without stint to retain his po-
siticns, realizing that their capture
would spell disaster.
The giving up Of front-line trenches
north of Albert possibly may mean
that the German high command fore
secs the ultimate success OF the Amer
lean and British operations along the
Somme and Is readjusting the German
positions to meet any evcntuality. In
any event. the retrugrade movement
seemingly indicates that the ten-mile
salient between Beaumont. Hamel and
Bray. the Somme. with Albert It's
apex. now must give way In order
that the German front here may come
into alignment with that in the south
across the Somme. In fact. it seems
not improbable that the Germans pur-
pose to readjust their front from the
Sommc to Arras, and possibly further
northward.
The capture of Ribecourt by the
French marks an important epoch in
- ~
mediate purpose the freeing OF the
region between the Somme and the
Disc OF the enemy. AS gain from
the strategic standpoint it ranks with
the taking by the French Of the forest
and hill positions between the Matz
and the Oise, which has brought the
French almost to the gates OF Las
siEny. Through Ribccourt lies an open
route up the Disc Valley to Noyon-
n route by rail and the big national
thoroughfare not to mention the camel
which parallels the roadways for the
greater part Of the way Noyon is only
little more than six miles northeast
OF Ribecourt. 800
Although they are still encounterins
violent resistance. the French are con-
tinuing to make progress through the
wooded and hilly country between the
Matz and the Disc. where the Germans.
from recesses in the forest. on spurs
and In the canyons. are using machine
guns innumerahle. Gas also is being
loosed in great quantities by the enemy
Almost entire control OF the Thiescourt
plateau and the other high ground on
this sector Is now in the hands Of the
French.
AMERICANS AND FRENCH
HOLD FIRM ON yEsLE
Along the Vesle the Germans again
have made unsuccessful attacks against
the French and Americans, who are
still holding their positions.
In the mountain region on the west
ern Italian front the Italians have cap
tured several important positions from
the Austrians.
AMERICANS AND BRITISH
MAKE ATTACK ON AIRDRoME
LONDON. August 14.-American and