The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-08-10
MONTDIDIER TAKEN BY ALLIES;
PRISONERS TAKEN NOW $4,000
REVIEW OF THE
TWO DAYS DRIVE


Amiens shattered by the Franco
British thrust, the Germans con-
tinue to retire with the allies in
close pursuit
Enemy resistance on the extrem-
tiles of the attacking front has
been broken and latest reports
from the battle front say the enc
my LIS retiring in great haste.
Aerial observers say the Germans
are In full retreat eastward across
the Picardy plains toward the old
Hindenburg Line. German ammut.
milton dumps are being blown up.
The allied line has now been
driven forward in the center more
than eleven miles and the max
imum advance is thirteen miles
made by the French.
The apex Is six miles wide and
runs from Mainecourt to War
villers. The important Peronne-
Roye high road and railway is
within short cannon range and
British scouts are reported within
one mile of Chaulnes, the middle
point of the Peronne- Roye line
Montdidier and its surrounding
salient into the allied lines still
holds out, but its fall is believed
to be only matter Of few
hours. A withdrawal here un-
doubtedly will have a more or
less far reaching effect on the
German positions eastward Of
Rheims, along which the allied
pressure continues. That the Ger
mans were surprised by Marshal
Foch's new manoue3re becomes in
creasingly more evident.
Much material and supplies were
left behind, and even entire rail
road trains, including one loaded
with troops, were captured by the
onrushing British.
Prisoners taken by the allies
now total $4,000. Between 200
and 800 guns also we're captured.
French troops have taken 1000
OF the aggregate of prisoners.
Three colonels and their entire
regimental stats were captured
by the French. The alliel losses
have not been heavy.
Operations Friday included not
only the advance OF the blunt
apex by five miles, but the smash
ing of the Germans resistance on
the ends Of the battle hno North
of the Somme the British have
been meeting with bitter resist
ance, but they have captured Nor
lancourt, the axis of the German
line between the Somme and Al
bert. On the northern bank Of the
Somme, however, they lbs, Chi
pilly to the Germans while NOV
ing forward on the southern bank
Of Morcourt. The French extend
ed their gains south along the
Avre toward Montdidief by taking
pierrepont. Courtemanche, a mile
northeast of Montdidier, but on
the opposite bank Of the Avre.
also has been occupied.
Rainecourt. the furthest point
east claimed by Field Marshal
Haig, is five miles east OF q
line drawn north and south
through Montdidler. Only one sup.
ply line remains for the Germans
in the Montdi iier salient and this
Is under the cross-fre of the al
lied guns.
Apparently the Germans have
made little effort NJ prolonged
defense in the center and Berlin
makes no claim that they have.
How effective was the first allied
smash Thursday is shown by the
German report OF the fighting that
day, which says the allies reached
the artillery line.
The allied capitals look for fur
ther Withdrawals on other parts
Of the line as result OF the
thrust in Picardy and a continua-
alton Of the retirement in Flan-
ders, which possibly may wipe out
the salient there. Opinion in
Washington Is that Marshal Foch
has challenged the German COM
mand to fight # out or retire, II
is believed the enemy must send
in all available reserves or admit
defeat and withdraw to the lines
he held on March 2l, or still fur
ther.
The allied advance In Picardy
has yet had no apparent effect on
the German positions between the
Vesle and the Aisne. The enemy
still clings to the hills nor,A Of
the Aisne and has made attacks
north of Rheims which were re-
pulsed. Across the V.sle from
Fismes, the Americans have Occur
pied Fismette and added another
bridgehesd to the position north
of the river, which Is being en-
larged rapidly. Pressure on the
remainder of the sector continues.
British and French diplomatic
agents are reported tU have been
arrested in Moscow by the bolshe-
wiki, and Great Britain has de-
manded the release of Il. II. r.
Lockhart, the leader Of the Brit
ish contingent. Premier Lenine is
reported unofficially to have sent
an ultimatum to Japan regar ling