Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-19
Associated Press Summary p. m.

Fighting on the western front still is
confined TO local actions with the initia-
tive in the hands Of the Allies. As in
the last week the scenes of most activity
are the Picardy battlefield and the Lys
salient.
South Of the Somme the French and
British maintain their pressure against
the strong point Of Roye, but the fighting
is not as general as IL was toward the end
of last week when the French moved
forward to within mile and one-quarter
of Rove. Northwest Of ROye the British
have made progress between Chilly
and Fransart, while south Of the town
the French have taken 400 prisoners in
spirited local actions south of fBeauvrignes.
French Nearing Roye.
German efforts to hold their line in
the sector between Roye and Lassigny
have been challenged BY the French
1 and with success. Since the general
/ fighting in Picardy died down the French
/ have been pushing relentlessly northeast
/ ward between ROye and Lassigny with
/ the evident purpose Of outAanking both
positions. The Germans have been
pressed back in violent cOmbats az a
! salient driven in here might easily prove
disastrous for the entire enemy defence
system on the present line.
From BailIeul which is on the north
ern side Of the Lys salient, at the apex Of
the salient near Yieux Berquin the British
have been pressing back the Germans
steadily and now apparently have them
Oft all the high ground on this sector The
latest British gain was on front Of four
miles between Baileul and Fieur Ber-
nuin for a distance 0f more than half a
mile. The enemy also lost 400 prisoners.
Field Marshal Haigs men reOcrupied
Outtersteen, about three quarters Of a
mile east Of Merris, which probably
marks the maximum progress in this
region in the last week.
British Make Slight Gains.
south Of the BaiIIeux-V -Vieux Berquir
road the terrain slopes gradually TO the
valley of the Lys. on the eastern bank
Of which il rises again. Apparently the
Germans have been pushed across the
road. Further British progress toward
Iys would endanger the German hold on
Mont KENNEL and the high ground in
that region The British also have made
a slight advance southwest Of Merviiie,
Marshal Foch has not followed up ms
success Of Saturday when he drove the
Germans back between the Disc and
Soissons in the region Of Autreches. The
terrain there is most difficult and furthei
operations probably will depend upon
the situation in the Lassigny- -Roye region
Apparently the French effort was made
more as diversion than as a determined
effort TO force the enemy back TO th'
Disc as ne probably would have TO retire
10 the river if the French captured the
present German line through Roye
Lassigny and N0yon.
Americans stuck to Frapelle.
The situation along the Aisne- fesi'
sector is unchanged. The enemy con
tinues his harassing attacks using arul
lery and gas. but the French and Ameri
cans manage TO cling TO their bridgehead
north Of the Nesle. In the NOsges AmerI
can troops have advanced slightly nea
FrapeIle. captured Saturday.
The Germans have been Shelllng IN
village heavily. Austrian attempts trie
to regain the Islet in the lower PiaFe
taken last week by the Italians, haV
failed. In a counter attack the Italian
drove the enemy back and took thirt
prisoners. In the mountain region IN
, artillery has been active st isolate'
points.