Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1918-08-15
HUNS ON THE RUN
ON P|CAROY FRONT
MONTDIDIER FALLS TO ALLIES
AND GERMANS ARE RETREAT
ING TO THE SOMME.
Americans Aid In Rolling Back Teuton
Line, Enemy Being Unable to Stop
the Victorious Allies In Latest
Drive Toward Berlin.

Paris.-The French have driven the
Germans before them for an important
gain east of Montdidier in Picardy.
That city, which was the apex of Il
German salient that now has been
wiped out, fell to the FreAch fourth
army at midday Saturday Before
nightfall the victorious French forces
an average depth of six miles ON Il
front of approximately twenty miles.
In the three days of engagements
that eliminated in the taking of Mont
didier, the French took 5000 prisoners
Their capture also included 200 guns
and an enormous amount of material
Crushed by the impact of the brit
lsh, French and American offensive on
the battle line from Albert, northeast
of Amiens to Disc river north of Com
piegne, German forces are streaming
back toward the Somme river and the
Nesle-Noyon canal. So fur as can be
determined. the enemy is in full re-
treat all along the front against which
the allies flung themselves the latter
part of the week.
The drive of the past week In Pic
ardy was u complete success. The real
offensive was launched from the direc-
ton of Amiens within three DAYS after
the French and Americans had been
definitely halted at the Nesle river
Before the crown prince could send
back any divisions TO Picardy the
British and French swept forwar.. ir-
resistibly with tanks. big and little, as
the piece de resistance OF their drive
With Villers Bretonneux ms a center.
the British struck to the north and
south. Their northern flank of attack
reached almost to Albert, their south
ern TO lanyard. South OF that the
French We're ready for attack near
Morisel and Moreuil. where heavy re-
sistance was to be expected. The Brit
ish attacked without artillery prepa-
ration. The French bombar,led the
enemy for about 45 minutes before
moving forward to the assault. Then
they took Morisel and Moruell In Sc
we're fighting. Meanwhile the British.
Australians and Canadians had been
pushing forward south Of the Somme
with the apex OF their wedge directed
toward Rozieres. The first day they
did not take that town, which Is about
seven or eight miles east OF yillers. but
they gained positions beyond II 10 the
north. On their left flank the British |
ala not make much progress north of |
the Somme, and ON the second day OF |
the fighting they lost Chipilly. On that |
day, however, the German resistance /
to the south was broken by the British
and French, who began to get MontdI-
der into a pocket.
To the north. In the center. the Brit
ish, with Canadians and Australians.
continued to gain toward Chaulnes
after occupying Rozieres. At Chipilly
Americans were thrown into the fight
Friday afternoon, and. with the aid OF
the British. recaptured 1t. On Satur-
day they pushed some distance beyond
Chipilly and Morlancourt, in the same
rSyion.
BY this time the enemy's lines had
oeen so seriously shattered that n gen
eral retirement to wholly new line
was imperative. Indeed, the high com.
mand probably had given the order for
THIS retirement on the first or second
day OF the fight. but even this timely
provision failed to prevent the allies
from capturing hundreds OF cannon
and thousands Of prisoners.
The American drive In the AInrne
salient was the turning point OF the
war, but 1t Is doubtful whether IL OBJ
Ialned the fruits that would seem to
De the inevitable sequence OF the
franco-British victory. in which the
Americans are successfully parucipaf-
ng. Both battles have been entente
successes In special sense.
On the Scissors Rheims front the
french and Americans have been nib
ping at the enemy. but in the process
hey have established some strong
'ridgeheads across the vesle river
rom which to continue their opero-
ions. III the Germans retreat 10 the
iihdenburg line, there will be no
nance OF holding the line Of the yesle.
'hu the crown prince will withdraw
attempting to try conclusions
'i'n the French and Americans south
II the Aisne.
ny means OF their air supremacy the
mes can watch every movement of
ne retreating enemy rs II the entire
attie were being thrown upon a NOV
* picture screen. The enemy. mean
me- Is almost blind. His machines
~ oeen downed in such numbers
''n' ne cannot tell what the opposInc
0rces are doing or planning.
commander who Sank Lusitsnla Dad