The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-08-23
.HA|C'S men TAKE
TOWN OF ALBERT;
BIC FRENCH Gain
Petain'S Forces ROut Germans
and Capture Many
Villages.
FOE RETREATS IN DISORDER
ALLIES Cross the AilIette River and
Continue Great Drive Along the
Entire Front-Britlsh Take
5000 Prisoners.


bert, 10 miles northeast Of Amiens, on
the Ancre river, has been recaptured
by the British, who also have obtained
all their detectives In the fighting be-
tween Bray-sur-Sommea and Albert. ac-
cording to the official communication
from Field Marshal Haig. Over the
six-mile front the British advanced
two miles. Five thousand prisoners
have been taken In two days.
U. S. Troops in Battle.
The width Of the tremendous blow
Field Marshal Haig loosed against the
Germans between Albert and Arras, a
ten-mile front, was increased when
the British lunged forward on the
right Of this line from Albert to Bray,
on the SOmme, front of more than
six miles.
It Is not improbable that American
troops are included in the Albert-Bray
drive since they were operating some
days ago with the British left in the
Somme attack.
Late dispatches declare that south
Of Albert the British advance was
progressing satisfactorily, the Ancre
river having been crossed at several
points, despite desperate opposition.
Several battle front dispatches de-
clare observers have reported the en-
envy Mt places Is In retreat.
Foes Counter-Attacks Fall.
The Germans have been counter-at-
lacking desperately at some points, but
nowhere have they done anything ex-
cept to slow up the general advance
for the time being.
North Of Albert General Haig's
forces hammered ahead during the
night, crossing the Arras-Albert rail-
road, natural defense along which
the Germans resisted with vigOr. They
were forced to fall back, however, and
the British In spots have pushed on
east Of this railway, until at points
they are within six or seven miles Of
the old Hindenburg line.
Flight Under Searching Sun.
Tanks have been working we'll to the
front Of the British lines almost every
where. The battle was fought under
a scorching sun, the men fighting over
the dusty, shell-churned ground, open
shirted, or without upper garments,
the sweat streaming down their half
naked bodies.
At many places heaps Of German
dead, moved down by the British fire,
lay baking in the sun.
French Take Many Towns.
Paris, Aug. 23.-Numerous villages
running northwest of Scissors have
been taken by the French. whose drive
along the whole front continues, &C.
cOrding to the war office announce
ment. The most important of the
places captured Is Pommiers.
French Pursue Huns.
With the French Army in France
Aug. 23.-The retreat Of the Germans
before both the Third and Tenth
armies continues with increased speed
over large part Of the battle front
(from Lassigny to Soissons), and in
some cases in disorder.
General Mangin's men are approach
Ing the COucy forest and are nearly on
the line held in April along the River
Ailette. They have also widened their
hold on the Disc to Bretigny, midway
between Noyon and Chauny.
The French advance toward the
roads leading to Chauny adds another
menace to the German line Of retire
ment and explains the acceleration of
the enemy's retreat. Bourgignon, st.
Paulaux-Bois, and Quincy fell into the
hands Of the French, giving them COM
mand Of the valley Of the Ailette from
the region Of Coucy-le- Chateau to the
Disc.
General Humbert's troops lover to
the west) also are pressing the enemy
vigorously. Having occupied the
height Of Plemont, just south of Las
signy, which they surrounded Wednes-
day, they have captured Thiescourt,
which completes the conquest of the
group Of hills known as the Thiescourt
massif.