The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-08-09
ALLIES DRIVE
GERMANS BACK
SEVEN MILES
Over 1000 Prisoners and 100
Guns Captured by Franco
British Troops.
HAIe STILL MAKING PROGRESS

Slopes OF the Valley of the Avre Car
ied and Allies Have Reached
Plateau BeyondLSurprise At
tack Made on 25-MiIe
Front-Aided by Many :.
Tanks.
London, Aug. 9.-Seven thousand
prisoners and 100 guns have been cap
tured in the Franco-Brt:sh offensive,
Andrew Bonar Law, chancellor of the
exch cquer, announced. He was ad-
dressing the house of commons.
Cup to three o'clock in the afternoon,
on 20-kiIometer front between Nor
iancourt and Montdidier," the chan
color said, 1--WE had reached all our
objectives and captured 100 guns and
1000 prisoners
THE advance was to be between
four and five miles and at one point
seven miles"
With the French Army in France,
Aug. e--The slopes of the valley Of
the Avre have been carried and the
allies have reached the plateau be-
yond. They are making further prog
ress and overcoming every obstacle
along the line everywhere.
London, Aug. 9.-Field Marshal
Haig's statement concerning the new
offensive by the British and French
troops shows that the enemy line has
been driven in about seven miles and
half In the center at Plessier, which
lies southeast of Moreuil. 1t shows
that goOdly gains also have been made
eastward over the front of Is miles ly-
ing between Plessier and Morlancourt.
The statement says that no estimate
can be made concerning the prisoners,
guns and material captured, but that
several thousand prisoners and many
guns have been taken.
Text of Statement.
The text of the statement follows
"The operations commenced Thurs
day morning on the Amiens front by
the French First army under COM
mand of General Debentry and the
British Fourth army under Sir Henry
Rawlinson are proceeding successfully.
The assembly of allied troops was
completed under cover Of night, unno-
ticed by the enemy.
Aided by Tanks.
"At the hour of assault French,
Canadian, Australian and English di-
visions, assisted by large number of
British tanks, SJOrmed the Germans on
front of over 20 miles from the Avre
river at Breaches to the neighborhOod
of Morlancourt. The enemy was taken
by surprise and at all points the allied
troops have made rapid progress.
"At an early hour our first objec-
tives had been reached on the whole of
the front attacked. During the moro
ing the advance of the allied itfantry
continued, actively assisted by British
cavalry, light tanks and motor machine
gun batteries.
French Cross Avre River.
1.-THE resistance of German divisions
in the line was overcome at certain
points after sharp fighting, and many
prisoners and number of guns were
captured by our troops
1.-The French troops, attacking with
great gallantry, crossed the Avre river,
and, despite the enemy's opposition
carried hostile defenses.
North of the Somme the great part
of our final detectives were gained be.
fore noon, but in the neighborhOod OF
Chipilly and south of Lancourt (Mor-
lancourtD parties of the enemy of
fered prolonged resistance.
Allies Gain Objectives.
'In both localities the fighting was
heavy, but ultimately our troops broke
down the opposition of the German In.
fantry and gained their objectives.
South of the Somme the gallantry
of the allied infantry and the dash
and vigor of their attack had gained
during the afternoon the final objec.
tives for the day on practically the
whole of the battle front.
Assisted by our light tanks and ar.
mored cars, cavalry passed through the
infantry and beyond our detectives
riding down the German transports
and limbers in their retreat, and cap.
turing villages and taking many pris.
oners."
Where Line Runs.
1.-THE general line reached by our
troops runs from Plessier-Rosainviller
to Beaucourt, to CaiX, to Frameryille
to Chipilly, ano to the west of Morlan
court.
"No accurate estimate can be giveI
concerning the number of prisoners OF
guns or the amount of material cap
tured, but it is known that several
thousand prisoners and many guns
have fallen into our hands,"
Allies Attack at Dawn.
With the British Army In France