Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1918-08-15
important City in Picardy Line
Captured by French
Advance Is Rapid.
MANEUVER IS SURPRISE
Number Of Prisoners Taken In Present
Drive Increased to 1900
Germans In Flight on
Twenty-MiIe Front.

tant town Of Montdidier, which
was approximately at the apex Of
the German salient south Of the
somme, has been captured by the
Allies.
The number Of prisoners taken
from the Germans in the fighting
In Picardy has increased to $4,000,
tho war office statement an
nounces.
Paris, Aug. 12.-The German army
Of General Won Hutier is retreating
from the Montdidier-Noyon line. The
French began movement southeast
of Montdidier, according to the official
statement of the war office. The
towns Of Assanivillers and Rubescourt
were captured and the French reached
Faverolles. less than two miles east
of Montdidier. Northwest of Mont
didier the French have advanced east
Of Avillers, six miles northeast of
Roye. and have captured Davenescourt,
two miles east Of Pierrepont.
Retreat In Haste.
The retrograde movement of the
Germans is being accelerated by the
favorable progress of the new attack
south of Montdidier. The retreat of
Won Hutier's army is showing traces
of the utmost haste. Much war ma
terial is being left behind. The Ger.
man rear guards are fighting desper.
ately.
The main positions east of Amiens
shattered by the Franco British thrust,
the Germans continue to retreat with
the Allies in close pursuit.
The enemy resistance on the ex-
tremities of the attacking front has
been broken. Aerial observers say
the Germans are in full retreat east
ward across the Picardy plains toward
the old Hindenburg line. German am
munition dumps are being blown up.
Supplies Left Behind.
That the Germans were surprised
by Marshal Foch's new maneuver be-
comes increasingly more evident.
Much material and supplies were left
behind and even entire railroad trains,
including one loaded with troops, were
captured by the onrushing British.
Prisoners taken by the Allies now
total $4,000. Between 200 and 300
guns also were captured.
French troops have taken 1000 of
the aggregate of prisoners. Three
colonies and their entire regimental
STATS were captured by the French.
The Allied losses have not been
heavy.
Opposition at Home.
With the French Armies in the
Field, Aug. 12.-Allied aviators are
continually bombarding the important
railway centers of Roye and Nesle.
Many. explosions and fires have been
observed in these cities.
Roye is 10 miles northeast of Mont
didier. Nesle is seven miles northeast
of Roye and six miles southeast Of
Chaulnes.
French troops have extended their
front slightly southwark, capturing
Contofre and st. Hubert wood.
The German command is known to
be considering throwing in the class
Of 1920 within the next few weeks
months ahead Of time. Prisoners de.
clare there is a strong opposition in
Germany to sacrificing these boys two
years and half before their time, not.
wfthstanding the desperate need of
100000 reinforcements which this
class will provide. Since the losses
incurred on the Marne and the Somme
calls have been made for more re.
placements than can be filled from re-.
operating wounded.