Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-08-10

General Won Hutier is retreating from
the Montdidier- Noyon line. The retro-
grade movement OF the Germans Is be-
ing accelerated by the favorable pro-
gress OF the new attack south Of Mopt-
didier.
The retreat is showing traces of
utmost haste. Much war material Is
being left behind. The German rear
guards are lighting desperately.
Won Hutier's retreat from Montdidief
was cut on when the French captured
| Faverellee. Tho German position along
the Montdidier-Ro road is pre-
carious. ~
| To Give Up Salient.
4 1.-THE German line from Montdidicf
to Noyon is between twenty-five and
thirty miles in length and swings
southeast from Montdidier TO the soutf,
of Noyon. retirement probably means
the Germans are going to give up the
'Montdidfer salient. which would be the
first marked consequence Of the
Franco British offensive in Picardy
In retreatings from this line the Ger
mans are forced to used roads sand
railways going thru Roye, which ID six
miles southeast of Arviliers. east OF
which the French continued to advance
last night. It is not improbable that
the French thrust south Of Montdidier
Friday night in northeasterly direc-
tion, reaching Favcrolles. two miles
Ieaat OF Montdidier, compelled the re-
TREAT here.l
Mortdidier Quickly Surrounded.
The. French began 4 movement
southeast OF Montdidier slast night and
lvtrtuallxS had thes piace surrounded al
thai time. according to tie officiai war
statement today.
Northwest OF Montdidier the French
have advanced east OF tArvillers, !, six
miles northeast OF Roye, and have cap.
ltured pavenscourt. two niles east OF
Pierr epont. -
The towns of Assanivillers and
Rubescourt were captured and the
French reached Fayerolies, less than
two miles east Of Mpntdidier.
The movement Of General DeBenny's
army has been rapid and resulted in
the taking Of several thousand prison.
erc. The statement reads:
The French troops operating on the
right Of the British continued their
success thruout the night. Our troops
progressed east Of Arvillers and can.
tured Davenscourt.
They attacked south Of Montdidier
between Ayencourt and lie Fretoy and
occupied Rubescourt and Assanivillers
and reached Faverolles..
Punished by Own Devastation.
The German retirement Is under
heavy pressure from the French
armies. Behinb Won Hutier is a coun-
try that was completely devastated
curing the German evacuation in the
spring Of 1917. and which was again
overrun during the German Offensive
in March Of this year. The territory
offers little opportunity for the forna-
ton of a defensive line for an army in
full retreat.
It was In this region that virtually
every tree was felled by the Germans
so as to take from the British and
French armies any cover that might be
afforded.
Between the lines now being eva
tcuated and tie Hindenburg line east
ward are old trench systems runping
from Noyon westward thru Las.gny
and thence nortaward to Roye These
trenches are now somewhat elapitated.
Farther eastward, before the q Hin
denburg line is reached, are several
streams and the northern canal, where
delaying actions might be fought. For
the present, however, it seems that>the
Germans will be compelled to retire
from the whole territory which they
gained at such cost in the March often
Siye 80 t.gEfi It