New-York tribune., 1918-08-18
Foch, the Tank and Americas Great Aid
Have Turned the Battle Tide inf avor of the Allies
Military Aptitude Of French
a Big Factor for
Victory
British Mechanical
Genius Wins Credit
Elasticity of U. S. Organiza-
ton Is Quick to Bring
Results

ton Is Quick to Bring
Results
defense of Morisel. Until that bridge
head had been taken there was no
way by which the French tanks could
cross the marshy valley, and there
fore there was no opportunity for
advance. The French captured Mori-
sci, with the remaining survivors Of
it's garrison-S00 men-at 8 o'clock,
and after that they were able to go
forward. BY 10 they had surrounded
and taken Moreuil, on the other side
of the little river. By evening they
had come into line with the British
to the north Of them and were past
Plessier.
On the evening Of the first day,
therefore, the situation was this:
Over all the great central plateau of
Santerre there had been an advance
superior to any hitherto made on the
first day of any offensive since
trench warfare began, and the Ger
man defensive system had been COM
pletely broken. The vital railway
junction at Chaulnes was within
range of British guns. Montdidier,
at the head of the salient, was badly
pinched from the north and it's rail
way communications were interrupts
ed by the fire now directed against
Chaulnes junction. But the fact that
the Germans were still holding the
Chipilly Hill to the north grav;ely in
terfered with the road supplying the
furthest point of the British ad.
vance. The Allies counted that dav
about 10000 prisoners; but Mont
didier still held, the salient was not
yet reduced, nor, therefore, was the
first object Of the action attained.
The Battle on the
Second Day
In the second day of the battle the
enemy's general reserves were COM
ing up and opposing a considerable
resistance, while, on the Allied side.
the advance was slackened bv the
necessity of bringing up artillery and
munitlonment. Further, a continued
advance beyond Framerville and
down toward Lihons and Chaulnes
was difficult so long as the Germans
still retained Chipilly. The general
advance in the first part of the sec
ond day was no more than three or
four miles, the French getting
through to Piermont, north of Mont
dldier, and pinching the salient still
further by reaching Arvillers; but
the British, though passing Rosieres,
two and half miles from Caix.
were still hampered in their move
ment by the enemy occupation of
Chipilly Hill.
Great efforts had been made the
day before to retake the hill, but had
failed. 1t looked for a moment to a
distant observer as though the ad-
vance had met check. But rather
late on this second day things began
to change again for our advantage.
Late in the afternoon of Friday the
First French Army, whose left was
already engaged in the region north
OF Montdidier, struck suddenly and
unexpectedly in the southern face of
the salient beyond and to the east of
that town.
AT the same moment the British
north of the Somme and in front of
Chlpllly Hill, reinforced by certain
American contingents, attacked again
and the height was carried. With
the morning Of the next day the ad-
vance could assume new form.
In the course of the preceding
evening Australians and Canadians
pushed forward to within 200 wards
OF Chaulnes junction and stood nm
the rising ground near Lihons, look
ing down at the railway centre which
was SO vital for the Germans. and Of
course at such a range rendering it
as unusable as though it actually had
been passed and occupied. To the
south the French on this same Sat-
urday morning pushed up so far that
they surrounded Montdidier. the oar.
rlson of which surrendered with all
It's material before 8 a. m. During
the afternoon the whole line south Of
onaulnes went forward until bv
nlghtfall you have it running close
TO Chau!nes, though still immediately
west OF that town and southward
close to Roye, putting out of use the
main German roads of supply into
the salient, which all met ar Row