The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-17

a Lively combat for Chasscurs trench. in
tho middle " PIessisr Park. Tho hsht-
ing ended In q victory for the French.
1.-THE Germans still are cilnsing stub
bornly to the Iassigny -Roye line. They
have given no Indications whether they
hope to hold II longer than may be
necessary TO save material and withdraw
division whose communications are UNI
der the increasing menace OF Gen. Hum
bcrt's Ranking movement.
THE capture CT Ecouvillon. which ia
cilitated the taking of Ribecourt, has
been followed by the occupation of tho
Monolithe farm. giving the third army
another grip on vital position near
Thiescourt and threatening the German
line Of retreat along the road to Noyon.
There Is evidence that the German
reserves are no longer sufficient to
maintain the defence and that drafts are
being made on German troops holding
other Important sectora Tho French
division which took Ribecourt met there
enemy troops which recently had been
withdrawn from tho Verdun front. They
were old acquaintance. tho French
division having been cited for gallant
work In the defence of the fortress on
the Meuse against these same Germans.
Germans Dared by Defeat.
Tho fall Of Ribecourt followed close
upon tho capture of tho height OF
Antoval, which was attacked with such
ardor that the enemy was beaten before
ne realized what was happening. One
observer Sas caught In a tree from
which he wos regulating artillery fro.
The possession OF Monolithe farm
facilitates operations against the Loer-
mont height, q mile and a quarter TO
Arfh nA1f antrT
dominates Plemont which is the
strongest enemy position in the
Lassigny massif II also overlooks tho
valley leading northwest to Lassigny.
The hold of the enemy upon Lassigny Is
very precerious. when this nsnk breaks
tho whole line must crumble.'
The Associated Press correspondent
with the British army in France to-day
says:
by brilliant manauvre the French
finally have captured u wood and
Damery wood. In these two wooded
tracks the Germans hAve been holding
out desperately for several days. realiz-
ing the value Of these positions.
The little patches OF forest which
are now In the hands OF the Allies are
virtually on the extreme right OF the
British line and from their eastern bor-
ders 1t is possible to observe closely
quite wide stretch Of ground. The
allied position for several miles on each
side of the two woods has been mate
rally improved by their capture.
Last of Strong Positions.
These were virtually the last OF the
really more important positions on the
new front to which the nemy has been
holding and which the allied forces de-
sired. The enemy launched a heavy at
tack late yesterday against the new po-
sitions at Damery. After sharp fight
ing he was repulsed. leaving $50
prisoners.
"Other purely local actions had been
fought here and there along the new
front for the purpose of improving posi-
lions. During these combats in the last
twenty-four hours the British have cap
tured $50 prisoners and four machine
guns. hTe casualties in killed and
wounded inflicted upon the enemy in
these local affairs are estimated to be at
least 1900.
ITO the north. in the direction OF La
Couronne. the lines of the British have
also been advanced slightly. Artillery
activity continues along the entire front.
especially in the new Scmme battle area,
but the enemy does not seem to desire
to launch any extended infantry attacks.
even at Roye and Chaulnes. where he is
strongest
Germans Use Great Force.
at was learned to-day that since
August the Germans have employed
thirty-six divisions on a front OF forty
eight miles. OF this number twenty -one
were In the line at the beginning Of the
Somme attack, the fifteen others being
H1uaht IN rs, reenforcements. .as
1T ia learned from prisoners recently
captured that the British artillery in the
last few days has caused considerable
destruction within the enemy lines. The
British guns have been especially active
in searching out German ammunition
dumps. a number OF which have been
destroyed. 1t was partly for doing Just
this work that such speed was made In
the forward movement of the guns
From the start Of the offensive not a
moment has been lost in moving up the
artillery. That 1t has been a paying
proposition is proved by prisonerss
statements as to the havoc wrought by
shell fire.
Some slight troop movements east
ward are reported now and then to the
rear of the German lines along the
Somme, but they are insufficient. to war
rant any conclusions regarding the
enemy's Intentions"