Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1918-08-13
GERMANS RETREAT;
ALLIES CLOSING IN
PARIS REPORTS THAT FRENCH
ARE IN CHAULNES-THOUS-
SANDS OF PRISONERS.
F0cH MAKES GAIN SIX MILES
Montddier, the Hun Headquarters, is
Captured by AIIies-Teuton High
Command Faces Task of Elk
Treating Shattered Army.

Crushed by the impact of the British,
French and American offensive on the
battle line from Albert. northeast of
Amiens, to the Disc river, north of
Compiegne, German forces are stream
ing back toward the Somme river and
the Nesle-Noyon canal SO far as can
be determined, the enemy is in full re-
treat all along the front against which
the allies flung themselves on Thurs
day morning. 1t is reported from Paris
that French patrols are in Chaulnes,
the principal German center west of
the Somme.
The victorious French forces had
carried the battle line onward to an
average depth of six miles on a front
approximately 20 miles. In the three
days of engagements that eliminated
in the taking of Montdidier, the French
took 5000 prisoners. Their captures
also included 200 guns and an enor-
nous amount of material.
Montdidier Taken by Allies.
Montdidier, at the tip of the German
salient in Picardy, has been taken by
the allies, who cut off large numbers
fthe enemy when they sought to beat
retreat from the city. Thousands Of
prisoners were taken there by the al
lies, it is said.
North of the Somme stubborn enemy
resistance at Chipilly spur, a height
which dominated the whole valley of
the Somme in that region, has been
broken and the Germans north of the
river have joined their comrades in
retiring.
South of Montdidier teh French have
plunged through the German lines on
the hill west of the Matz river and are
reported to be in the valley of the
stream at Marqueglise.
The Germans are in a serious posi-
ton east of Montdidier.
Allies Continue Victory.
With the British Army in France
The allied forces continued their vic
torious advance all alongt he line
Sunday, pushing in the general direc-
tion of the upper reaches of the
Somme. They were smashing the
stiff resistance interposed by the rear
guards of the retreating Germans, the
bulk of whom, according to reports
considered reliable, are fleeing in dis
order British cavalry are reported
this afternoon operating close to the
town of Nesle.. (Nesle is six miles
southeast of ChaulnesJ
Huns Can't Stop Them.
The Germans have materially stiff
fened their defense against the Brit
ish, American and French troops on
the Picardy battlefront but they have
been unable to stem the tide.
Important Gains Made.
Although the forward push of the
allies has been slowed down, they
have made important progress on a
front from the north of the Somme,
where the Americans and British are
fighting together to the northern
bank of the Disc, held by the French.
Americans and British are pressing
closely upon Bray-sur-Somme aided
by tanks and armored cars.
British Enter channes.
Across the river the Germans
heavily engaged the British at Lihons
and it's vicinity, and at one point
pierced the British line and gained
the outskirts of Lihons. A counter
attack restored the British line and
the enemy retired to positions east
and north. Unofficial reports credit
the British with entering Chaulnes
and the British cavalry with pene
tration of the enemy's territory al
most to Nesles
Chaulnes. the important railway
town in the heart Of the Somme bat
tlefield and the key to the southern
line of the German salient, has beer
captured by the allies. The capture
was effected by Australian and Ca
madam troops.