Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-08-24
NEWS review OF
The GREAT WAR
Allies Continue Their Advance in
PiCardy Steadily but
More Slowly.
ROVE AND NOYON IN DANGER
First American Field Army Is Formed
Situation in Austria and Russia
mproVed-Man-Pow Bill In
troduced in the Senate.
BY EDWARD w. PlcKARD.

Moving more slowly but steadily and
with determination, tie allies last
week pushed the Germans further
back in Picardy. General Won H0ehm
the Hun retreat specialist" having
been placed In command on the Somme
front, put up an Increasingly strong
resistance to protect his withdrawal
and the fighting became rather local
ized. The tiercest struggle was toward
the south end of the battle line, where
the French were forcing their way to-
ward NOyon. Overcoming tremendous
resistance, they drove the Germans
from most of the massf or heights of
Lassigny early in the week. and also
moved forward in the Disc valley
Then they gained a secure footing on
the ThieScourt plateau and thus dom
mated most of the country northeast
of them for miles. This movement and
the unceasing pressure of the British
from the northward Imperfect the en-
cmy's position in Roye, although he
chung with desperation to that city
and to ChaulneS further north Along
much of tie line he was holding he
had the advantage of the old trenches
and wire entanglemcntS built by him
prior to July, 1916.
Whether Won Bochm would elect 10
try TO make a prolonged stand there,
or fall back on tie much stronger
PerOnne- Noyon line was not revealed,
but observers believed he would choose
the latter course. ana the fact that
ne was Withdrawing his troops north
of Albert strengthened this view. He
evacuated the towns of Beaumont,
Hamcl, Serre, Pulsieux au Mont ana
Bucquoy, taking up positions on
heights more easily defended. Along
the Somme. on both banks. the British,
with the able assistance of some
American troops have been advancing
slowly. taking Bray and Etinehem,
vi
In the advance Oh Roye an Noyou
from the southwest the French have
been fighting over extremely difficult
ground with numerous raYincs thar
furnish cover for the innumerable ma
chine guns the Germans have been us
ing But the French kept bringing up
their artillery and cleaning ont these
nests, and long before the end Of the
week they had taken Eibccourt. on
the Disc. and had Noyon under con
tinuul fire. rendering it almost unten-
able
ON the scissors Reims front The
fighting was mostly confined TO repent
ed but futile attacks on the Americans
at Fismcs Flsmette and the neighbor-
ing region Artillery Of both sides was
very active along the Nesle river
IA
Although the Picardy offensive WIS
slowed up somewhat army officers see
no indication a." letting down on the
part of |arshai Foch On the con
;ra~y. they predict thar another great
drive viii come soon. either IN Elan
ders or between the Disc and SCISSORS.
and expect movements Of far greater
scope in the hear future. The Ger
man high command seems to have ac-
cepted defeat aud 10 be trying to get
out Of it's difficulties as best It may.
The effect Of This on the morale Of the
soldlery is quite evident In the prs-
oners taken, and rs effect In Germany
* reflected ian The press. which admits
failure on .ne west front, as else
where
Early 10 the week IL was announced
TINT the First American field army. Of