The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-21

In new offensive launched by tn,
 French General Mangin over a front o
 approximately 151a miles, from Bally or
 the Disc to the Aisne near Sossons, the
 French in bitter fighting have carried
 forward their line to an average dept.
 of two and half miles and in the first
 phases of the battle had turned ;c
 French possession numerous enemy held
 villages and farms. In addition more
 than 5000 Germans had been herded be-
 hind the line as prisoners.
 Al last report Mangin's men were still
 hard after the enemy, and unofficial ac-
 counts placed the French on various sec
 tors well in advance of the positions out lined in the French ofricral communica-
 tion.
 BRITISH FORCE RETREAT
 Along the Scarpe river, east of Arras
 Field Marshal Haig's forces also have kept up their harassing tactics against the enemy who has been compelled to fall back eastward along the Scarpe rv- CT The Germans resisted vigorously, but all to no purpose, and the British advanced their lines to the east of the village of Fampoux. Although Haig claimed only slight forward movement here. particular significance attaches to it by reason of the fact that Germans have been driven back until they are virtually in their old battle lines as it stood in December. 1s17
 Northward the Lys salient again has been narrowed down by the opera tions of the British who, north of Mer- vile, have taken the villages of vierheek and LaCouronne and also reached the hamlet of L'Epiette. This gain repre- sents forward movement of about a mile and a half and places the British astride the road running southeastward to Estaires
 VICTORIES IMPORTANT
 Taken all in all the new victories of l the allied troops are highly important | ones. The advance of the French north l west of Soissons, taken in conjunction with the successful maneuvers on the Iassigny sector and south of Rove, where Beuyraignes has been captured. seeming ly means that the enemy forces from the Somme to the Disc soon must give I'D their positions and retreat eastward. In deed it seems not improbable now that Noyon is well outflanked on the south and southeast, and the German line is none too secure north of Soissons that the enemy will be under the necessity of moving his troops northward from the Vesle toward if not across, the Aisne The Germans still are stubborniy con- testing with the British points of van- tage on the line south of the Somme near , Chaulnes and north of Rove. which are ] still in German hands and which are the \ keys to the enemy defense. With the lA capture of Beurvaignes by the French 1 however, Rove apparently is on the evet ,f following and with it's fall doubtless he entire line northward to the Somme llso will give way. The Germans in the Merville sector a 1f the Lys salient everywhere are be- e ng closely followed by the British q IS they give up positions under at l F .ack and at last accounts they were l | showing some resistance, they are not . Hate halt is in their minds. On the 1 -ys front. although the Germans are n showing some resistance they are not s putting their wonted heart into their fl work
 There has been little fighting along f he Vesle river where the Americans tl md French are facing the enemy ii
 DRIVE MOST IMPORTANT ;,. Washington, August 3o-Interpreted ir; t first as a local operation intended s, to enable the allies to retain ir omplete possession of the initia tivc at