The Carlisle independent., 1918-08-22
NEWS REVIEW 0F
 THE GREAT WAR
Allies Continue Their Advance in Picardy Steadily but
 More Slowly.
ROVE AND N0Y0N 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. PACKARD.

Moving more slowly but steadily and with determination, the allies last week pushed the Germans further back in Picardy. General von 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, ized. The fercest 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 Disc valley. Then they gained secure footing on the Thieseourt plateau and thus dom mated most of country northeast of them for mil< This movement and the unceasing pressure of the British from tbs thward imperiled the en- emy tion in Rove, although he cp With desperation to that city
 lslo Chaulnes further north. Along much 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 Yon 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.
 fIn the advance on Roye and Soyon from the southwest the French have been fighting over extremely difficult ground with numerous ravines that furnish cover for the innumerable ma tIiIC uhs liAC ICAtbu6o 4AdfN hNNA 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 Ribeeourt, on the Disc, and had Noyon under con tinual fire, rendering il almost unten- able.
 On the Soissons-Reins front the fighting was mostly confined to repeat ed but futile attacks on the Americans at Fishes, Fismette and the neishbor- ing region. Artillery of both sides was very active along the Yesle 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 great 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 nun high command seems to have ae- cepted defeat and, to be trying to get out of it's difficulties as best it may. The effect of this on the morale of the soldiery is quite evident in the pris- oners taken, and it's effect in Germany is reflected in the press. which admits failure on the west front. as else where.
 Early in the week it was announced that the First American field army. of five corps, had been constituted with General Pershing as commander. It is understood that this army will by itself hold the eastern part of the line, to Alsace, and some officers believe an all-American drive east of VerdGn may come soon.