Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-08-14
ADVANCE IS
MENAC|NG GERMAN
POSITIONS AT R0YE
London, Aug. 4.-(4:30 p. m.)-Although
encounterng the hercest resistance the French are
making slow but steady progress down the slopes

RESISTANCE tIlC I IcIlCn are
progress down the slopes
of Lassigny ridge, it was
learned this afternoon.
Heavy fighting still con-
tinues.
Owing to the woods undergrowth
and rugged character Of the ground
the advance is difficult.
The positions before Roye and
Chaulnes remain stationary today.
but this is merely natural pause
that follows the first thrust.
German artillery is bombarding the
valley and WOODS southeast of Lassig-
NY, with mustard and gas shells, says
Reuter- dispatch from the French
front this afternoon.
The War In Summary.
Heavy artillery duels were re.
ported from the Picardy battlefront
today but neither the British nor
French war Offices made any men
ton of infantry operations in that
zone.
The activities of the big guns ap.
parently centered between the Avre
and the Disc rivers where the
French were unofficially reported on
Tuesday, to have advanced their
lines, putting the entire left flank
of the Germans in peril.
French troops moved closer to
Lassigny and Roye over wide front
taking high ground, which has taxi.
en- the whole German front in that
district.
The Germans began an evacua-
| tion of their trench positions In the
Disc valley, giving up much ground
that they gained in their drive in
June.
Further progress for the French
west of the Disc river. has been
made much easier by the capture of
high ground which affords screen
for artillery than can now deluge
the key positions and will
While the British, French and
| American consolidate their newly
won positions and move up their
| guns the Germans evidently are pre-
pairing a further retreat. Large
fires are observed far in the Ger
| man rear.
German artillery has developed
great activity on the Flanders front.
where there has been considerable
local fighting lately.
The shelling was concentrated in
the sector of the Franco-Belgium
frontier
II is possible that the Germans
may be trying to open the way for
infantry diversions in that district.
Aiong the Vesle river the Germans
are bombarding American positions
with utmost violence.
Italians Gain Ground
Washington Aug. 14.--Italans
thave taken by storm the Austrian
positions at Monticello, and have made
appreclabe advances in the position
Of Tonale and Val di Geneva, Rome
cables to the Italian embassy stated
today s'l&i
Austrian artillery is increasingly
active and violent artillery duels are
continuingalong the entire front.
Foe Artillery Active.
With the American Army on the
Aisne-Vesle Front, Aug a. The Ger
man artillery has been extremely ac
tive against the American bridgehead
position north of the Vesle river dur
ing the past twenty.four hours.
The Prussian guard division fac
ing the Americans has not been trans
ferred from the Vesle front despite
the activities in the Montdidier re
gion.
Aerial observers report that the
enemy is establishing barbed wire
entanglements and organizing strong
and elaborate defensive positions.
German batteries emplaced north o.
the Aisne river are now registering
the new American positions.
Despite violent fire from German
high-angle guns, American aviators
have succeeded In making numerous
photographs of the enemys positions
German fighting planes tried nnsuc
cessfully to drive away the American
observers.
During the sky battles attending
this work American two.seater ma