The sun., 1918-08-12
French Forming Ring
Around Noyon, Strong
German Base.
TRANSPORTS IN FLIGHT
Prisoners Estimated at N,-
600. With Foe Still -
Entangled.
MANY OFFICERS TAKEN
TcutOns Fight Strong Rear
Guard Action to Gain
Time for Stand.
MANY OFFICERS TAKEN

LONDON, Aug. IL. - NOtwith.
standing a greatly stiffened German
resistance the British, French and
Americans continued to advance to-
day along the southern extremity OF
the curving salient that extends from
north of the Somme to the nelghbor-
hood Of the Disc.
The French made the greatest
progress during the day. South and
southwest of Roye they drove across
the Roye-Compiegne road and reached
the road leading from Compiegne to
Noyon ut Cambronne. The French
have now extended their lines east
ward from Montdidier about seven
miles.
The French are forging a ring about
Noyon. which proba bly, will be the Ger
man base, IL 1t is possible to hold Il,
in the battle which must follow. ON
the southeast the French approached
within seven miles Of Noyon by the
capture OF chevincourt, Marchemont
and Cambronne. The French approach
is being made by the route OF the Disc
Valley, these towns lying in the valley
ofsthat stream. -Matz. nine
miles west OF Noyon, also has been
captured by the French -.
Transports in Flight.
Behind the enemy's lines many large
fires continue to be seen and allied
airmen report that long transport coll
umns are fleeing eastward with all
! possible haste, which is accepted an
ertsence that the Germans ihtthnrto
retreat to new lines of defence. Allied
hiers have destroyed all the bridges
across the Somme between Peronne
and liam, distance OF fifteen miles.
This, combined with the fact tina.
! allied airmen and artillery have slowed
up, in many instances totally disrupted,
the enemy retreat, led to the interposi-
ton Of strong rear guard elements to
halt the allied progress. French and
British comman. ers are now convinced
the enemy is devoting all his energy
TO withdrawing the largest possible
amount OF supplies without stopping
to count the cost in life that the Allies
are exacting as the price OF that en-.
! terprise.
Chaulnes Il Captured.
Chaulnes, an important railroad CEN
tire in the Somme battlefield. is now
in allied hands, due to fine work by
Canadian and Australian troops The
Allies announce additional capture Of
prisoners, and while no official figures
are given It is estimated that the num-
ber must be we'll over the forty thou
sand mark.
The Berlin War Office again takes q
hopeful view OF the situation art1 en-
deavors 10 calm fear at home that the
new offensive OF the Allies is gaining
ground with the statement that violent
enemy attacks between the Ancre and
the Aisne have failed" In the day
statement however, the German high
command admits that fighting has been
resumed on terrific scale and reports
strong enemy thrusts along the Lys
River where the Germans made their
retreat last Friday. The day statement
also admits that the offensive OF the
Allies has spread as far south rs the
Oise.
Germans Praise Resistance.
Tribute IL paid 10 the valor OF the
German infantry In these words: In
the huctuating battle against the masses
OF armored cars the unshakable strength
OF our infantry again made itself fully
felt at this point (bet~een the Ancrs
and the Avre). On many occasions the
enemy's assaults broke down as a result
OF our artillery FIRE"
The statement also announces that on
the front Of a single division more than
forty tanks were destroyed. In de-
scribng the lighting between the Avrs
and the Oise. where the French made
their advances to-day. the Berlin state
I ment says that the Allies were unable
to reach the new fighting line OF the
Germans to the east OF Montdidier, de-
spite strong attacks after long artillery
preparation.