Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-08-09
Today's War
Summary
(By The Associated Press)


(By The Associated Press)
Pressing the advantage already
gained in Picardy the British and
French troops in smashing attacks
are forcing the Germans back toward
the important Peronne-Roye road.
The advance Thursday was probably
the greatest in territorial extent by
the Allies in m day since 1916.
Amiens, as a result of the fighting
up to the present, has been almost
entirely relieved Of the German men
ace and rel the German artillery
will nave difficulty in reaching it. The
important railway running north from
Paris through Amiens and paralleling
the Allied battlefront can now be
used again after being under the fire
of German guns for four months.
Ten, thousand prisoners have been
TAKEN, according to unofficial reports
reaching Paris. The Allied losses
thus far have been slight and the
Germans have been slow and weak in
envy defense asset-machine gun
nests-appears to have been very we'll
squelched by the British tanks which
sWarmed through the German lines.
In smashing through the German
first lines on the 20-mile front from
Morlancourt to Hargicourt, or rough
ly, from Albert to Montdidier, the AL
lies advanced az far as " and oner
half miles in the center. The aver
age advance probably was more than
four miles. Most determined opposi-
ton has been encountered on the ex-
tremities Of the fighting front. Nor
Ia amount &c Sfi11 in Co~~or horle ~
though a desperate conflict was staged
there Thursday.
Artillery played little part in the
surprise given the Germans by Mar
shall Foch. Tanks were used in large
numbers and, according to reports,
most effectively. Cavalry was brought
in late Thursday and succeeded in
capturing several villages and in
rounding up scores of prisoners. Field
captures of guns n prisoners but an
nouncement has been made officially
in London that early Thursday 1900
Germans and 100 guns had been taken
by the British and French. Later
unofficial reports bring the total of
prisoners to more than $1,000, the
French alone taking 5000.
Penetration of the enemy positions
has been greatest south Of the Somme
to Blessiers. This is directly east of
Amiens n Framerville, the farthest
east reached by the British up to late
Thursday, is eve miles from the
Peronne-Roye road. North Of the
Somme the British have had to fight
hard for their gains and the same has
been, true of the French advance
across the Avre. Once across that
river, however, the French moved
forward rapidly.
The Peronne-Roye road with its
parallel line of railroad runs north
lied line, which is bisected by the
Amiens-Laon railroad. It is the main
enemy communication line. With
this in Allied hands, or even under
short artillery range, the German po-
sitions north to Arras and south and
east almost to Rheims would be in
great danger. Montdidier, the pillar
Of the German positions, where the
battlefront swings towards the east,
is surrounded on three sides.
Should Montdidier fall or the Pc
ronne-Roye road be cut the German
situation between Arras and Rheims
would be most difficult, military OBJ
servers believe. The first result prob
ably would be. a withdrawal from
Montdidier to Rheims ito the line Of
the Disc and the Aisne or perhaps to
part OF the old Hindenburg line. The
terrain before the Allies is rolling and
rather difficult of defense, except
north of the Somme.
Important results already have
been achieved should the Peronne-
Roye road not be reached at once.
Marshal Foch has shown he retains
the initiative and the forces to take
the offensive. Also Amiens and the
northern railroad are no longer under
easy artillery range. The present Al
lied line tends to form two pockets
one to the north and one to h south
both Of which become more insecure
as the advance continues.
Berlin says the British have forced
their way into the German positions
between the Ancre and the Avre but
gives no details. German counter
attacks probably will be stronger now
that the enemy knows where he Is be-
ing menaced.
l.. Along the vesle there has been lit
tie change in the situation. The
Franco-American pressure continues
and substantial forces are reported
northward. The German position
here depends somewhat, though not
entirely, on the situation in Picardy
thanked, but unless the Allies are
checked promptly in the north a re.
tirement to north OF the Aisne would
appear to be inevitable.
In northern Russia the Allied
troops landed at Archangel are NOV:
ing southwark along the Vologda rail.
road. The Bolsheviki, aided by some
German units. have retired to seventy
miles south Of Archangel.
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