Mexico Missouri message., 1918-09-05
NEWS review OF
The GREAT WAR
Allies Continue Their Advance in
Picardy Steadily but
More Slowly.
R0YE AND NOY0N IN DANGER
First American Field Army is Formed
Situation in Austria and Russia
Improved--Man-Pow Bill In
troduced in the Senate.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD.

Moving more slowly but steadily and
with determination, the allies last
week pushed the Germans further
back in Picardy. General Won Boehm,
The Hun retreat specialist" having
been placed in command on the SOmme
front, put up an increasingly strong
resistance to protect his withdrawal,
and the fighting became rather local
lied. The fiercest struggle was toward
the south end of the battle line, where.
the French were forcing their way to-
ward Noyon. Overcoming tremendous
resistance, they drove the Germans
from most of the massif or heights of
Lassigny early in the week, and also
moved forward in the Oise valley.
Then they gained a secure footing on
the ThiescOurt plateau and thus DOM
mated most of the country northeast
of them for miles. This movement and
the unceasing pressure of the British
from the northward imperiled the en-
emy's position in Roye, although he
clung with desperation to that city
and to Chaulnes further north. Along
nGch of the line he was holding he
had the advantage of the old trenches
and wire entanglements built by him
prior to July, 1916.
Whether Won Boehm would elect to
try to make a prolonged stand there,
or fall back on the much stronger
Peronne-Noyon line was not revealed,
but observers believed he would choose
the latter course, and the fact that
he was withdrawing his troops north
of Albert strengthened this view. He
evacuated the towns of Beaumont,
Hamel, Serre, Puisieux au Mont and
BucquOy taking up positions on
heights more easily defended. Along
the Somme, on both banks, the British,
with the able assistance of some
American troops have been advancing
slowly, taking Bray and Etinehem.
"a
In the advance on Roye and Noyon
from the southwest the French have
been fighting over extremely difficult
ground with numerous ravines that
furnish cover for the innumerable ma
chine guns the Germans have been us
ing. But the French kept bringing up
their artillery and cleaning out these
nests, and long before the end of the
week they had taken Ribecourt, on
the Disc, and had Noyon under con-
tinual fire, rendering it almost unten-
able.
On the Soissons-R Reims front the
fighting was mostly confined to repeat,
ed but futile attacks on the Americans
at Fismes, Fismette and the neighbOr
ing region. Artillery of both sides was
very active along the Vesle river.
"a
Although the Picardy offensive was
slowed up somewhat, army officers see
no indication of letting down on the
part of Marshal Foch. On the con
trary, they predict that another greai
drive will come soon, either In Elan
ders or between the Disc and Soissons
and expect movements of far greater
scope in the near future. The Ger
man high command seems TO have &C
cepted defeat and to be trying to ge
out of its difficulties as best II may
The effect of this on the morale of thu
soldiery is quite evident In the pris
Oners taken, and its effect in German.
. is reflected in the press, which admit
failure ON the west front, as else
where.
Early in the week It was announces
that the First American field army. o
hve corps, had been constituted will
General Pershing as commander. ]
is understood that this army will b,
Itself hold the eastern part Of the line
to Alsace, and some officers believe al
all-American drive east Of yerdun ma
come soon.