Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-08-17
HUNS FALL BACK l AND 2 MILES IN
 ALBERT SECTOR Is Second Voluntary With draWal Within Past
 Few Days. FRENCH AND BRITISH BOTH GAIN GROUND Allies knOcAing at Gates of Rove and French Troops, Make Further
 Progress and Menace
 NOyOn.
Associated Press Summary

Evidently it is not in the plans of the entente allies to leave the Ger mans secure in their possession of the line they are now holding in the region between the SOmme and the 'Oise.
 1 Although the front from the south of the Somme past Chaulnes and run ming through Noye to Noyon has been studded with fresh reinforce ments and innumerable guns in order to keep back the allied troops the Germans nevertheless have again been forced to give ground and at points where seemingly their de- fense soon must crumble and the re- treat eastward be resumed
 Hammering at Rove.
 French and Canadian troops Friday night between Goyencourt and l1au- court, on a front of about three miles had fought their way west of Rove until they were virtually at the doors of the town which is one of the key stone positions of the German de- fense in Picardy, while to the im- mediate north British troops fight ing alone were still in possession of Damery and Parvillers following heavy counter attacks made by the Germans to dislOdge them. West of Rave the allied line is now only scant mile and quarter distant
 Adding materially to the danger of Rove by direct assault on the part of the French and Canadians at it's western gate and from flanking maneuver by the British on the north west the French have carried out successfully an advance five miles to the south which seemingly lays the town open to a turning movement from the Loges wood, which has been penetrated deeply
 Increase Menace to NOyOn. | Not alone, however, is Rove men, aced by this latter advance, but, de- bouching from the woods southeast ward the French troops in the Disc valley near RibecOurt also startegic- ally placed, to begin reeling-up pro- cess, which, if successful, would ob- literate the hill and wooded country now standing as a barrier to the cap ture of NOyon.
 r. Taken altogether the position of rthe allie dtroops on the Somme-Oise -salient is materially better than it has been for several days past. ' Following closely on the evacuation 'Of the front line position north of Albert, which were taken over by the British, has come another voluntary relinquishment of trenches in the sector.
 Retreat on 9.Mile Front.
 All the way between Labasse canal and Ypres the Germans still are eX- hibiting signs of nervousness and daily are bOmbarding the British IAront heavily with shells and gas projectiles.
 Along the Vesle river front the Ger mans are similarly deluging the posi- tions held by the French and Aemri- cans with shells, gas prOjectiles and bombs from airplanes, but their ef- forts have gone for naught, so far as causing a relinquishment of terri tory is concerned.
 The American aviatOrs are busily engagement aOinshrdcmfwyptaoin engagements behind the German line especially against the bridges leading nOrthWard across the Aisne river.
 The American artillery also is pay ing strict attention to the areas be- hind the line to harass the Germans.
 On the other battle fronts little fighting of moment is taking place, although the Italians have been fOrc- ed to sustain several other counter attacks by the Austrians in the Ton ale region.
 Repulse Counter Attacks.
 London, Aug. 16.-The British Thurhday evening repulsed a strong German counter attack at Damery and today in cooperation with the French made substantial progress in the vicinity of Fresnoy Les Rove and Fransart according to the official re- port from field marshal Haig's head quarters in France issued tonight.
 The text of the statement says:
 Yesterday evening the enemy launched strong counter attack against our new positions at Lamery.
 "His troops were everywhere re- pulsed with great losses, leaving ov-