New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-12
Foe Flees in Panic at Many Points;
Goyencourt Taken, Nesle Menaced

pcatedly were chased away by the Brit
ish pursuit planes to prevent them
from dropping bombs to hinder the
| advance of the troops.
The Germans were reported to be
retreating eastward past Peronne in
the greatest disorder. Many were said
Ito be without arms, apparently having
discarded their weapons. Among them
were many wounded men staggering
along on foot.
Chaulnes in Flames
Reports from the south received here
say that the French continue to push
along the Montdidier- Roye road. Many
fires and explosions are reported within
che German lines as their retreat goes
on. Much of this destruction was
caused by the Germans themselves, but
in some cases shells from Allied guns
struck and exploded enemy ammunition
dumps.
Chaulnes was shrouded in clouds Of
smoke, shot with fame. Among other
buildings in the town, the railway sta
ton was reported as having been burn
ing for many hours.
The German resistance thus far gen.
orally appears to become weaker as the
battle progresses toward the centre,
especially opposite the positions held
by the Australians. Here, for instance,
the artillery of the Allies often was
required to lift the fire 1000 yards at
time, so rapid has been the advance
of the infantry. All the counter at
tacks that the enemy has been able to
organize have failed, notably to the
east of Folies, where extremely heavy
casualties were inflicted on the Ger
mans.
Tanks Smashing Ahead
Tanks, both the large ones and the
"whippets," again performed tremen-
dous services at a small cost to them
selves all along the line. At one small
town, south Of the Amiens-Roye road,
the advancing French infantry sent
word to the British that they could not
get on because of heavy machine-gun
fire from the town.
Five ponderous armored monsters
went over and rolled directly into the
place. Their crews discovered the
houses were crowded with Germans
manning machine guns, principally
from second story windows. One tank
leisurely advanced upon a house while
hail Of bullets splashed off its metal
hide. After recommending at close
range the tank backed off and charged
home. It's great weight crushed in the
whole building and it continued for
ward until the structure was flattened
out, with the enemy machine gunners
thoroughly effaced.
Flattetl. Out Houses
After this success the four COM
panion tanks engaged serious groups
of the enemy and the house-wrecking
machine proceeded to roll down and
f1atten in nine other houses. This tank
literally crushed the entire village and
all the enemy within.
When the French infantry, who had
paused until the way was made clear
| for them by the British tanks, pro-
ceeded on their way, they met with no
resistance. On the other side of the
town, Germans who had witnessed its
demolition fed in terror.
German prisoners have boasted that
their forces now are equipped with new
anti-tank rifles, firing a large projec-
tile at great velocity. Actual encounter
with these rifles, however, demonstrates
that they are complete failures when
| trained on the armored tanks. A num-
Der of the weapons have fallen into the
hands of the British.
"Whippets" Clear Woods
During the advance east of Rosi-
eres British cavalry sent back word
that they could not proceed because
of heavy fire from wood, on their
front. A number of swift "whippets"
rolled around to the back of the wood.
but the Germans saw them coming and
ran for their lives toward the rear.
This gave the cavalry an opportunity.
and they charged into the enemy, who
made a vain attempt to rally. The
Germans we're sabred right and left
and 700 of them surrendered.
The battle is progressing at this hour
from one end of the line to the other.
and the most favorable results are re-
ported everywhere for the Allies