The sun., 1918-08-31
ONLY ONE LINELEF7
|. FOR GERMAN STAND
Position From Ham to Berlsn.
court Sole Refuge West of
the Hindenburg.
SHELL THEIR REAR GUARD
Enemy Guns, Firing Short.
Hit Troops Left Behind to
Guard Noyon.
SHELL THEIR REAR GUARD
BY fAe Associated Press

WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN Frazer
Aug. 30.-This evening there remain, IA
the Germans no other position TO fan
back upon west OF the HlndenburR In.
but a line running from Ham 10 Der.
lancourt. The Third Army, continuing
Its progress Of the early morning in III.
region of Noyon. has occupied Mont St
Simeon. while the Canal du Nord wa,
crossed at Chevilly.
Tho extent of these gains in territory
is Insignificant, but stratesicaily they
are of great importance The loss OF
Mont st. Simeon means the loss to IN.
Germans Of the main defence point Of
the salient extending from the canal to
the Aisne, while the French crossing
Of the Canal du Nord oblges the re.
! treating forces to quicken their flight
| or suffer greater losses.
The violent reaction effected north u
| Scissors by picked German divisions
| apparently was intended not only to
| check the advance of the allied troops
over the plateau toward the Chemin-des-
Danes, but to force Marshal Foch to de-
| tach troops from other operations and
| ease the trying situation of the retreat
| ing German forces. To-day's develop
ments prove that the latter object is no
| more likely to be attained than the for-
mer.
Hindenburg Line Less Safe.
The French pressure goes on with con-
tinued success and even the linden.
10 rf VA
Germans, appears this evening far less
| than a safe refuge.
Gen. Humbert's troops. which yester-
day took Noyon and advanced to Mount
Simeon, to the northeast. resumed their
| attack this morning and are advancing
up the difficult heights north OF the Disc
Machine guns have been placed on
every point of vantage by the Germans
and the struggle has become a sor; o.
bush lighting. These guns are carefully
concealed and command all paths lead
ing up the hills, and are capable OF hold
ing up a large force. oblising assaultirs
troops to dodge and surround the EN-.
placements. II has been found that ar
| tillery preparation, however intense,
never reaches all of them.
French soldiers after their experience
in Thiescourt Forest are becoming 'ami-
lar with this Indian style Of fighting.
while the German machine gunners left
behind. so that the infantry might rs-
tire with greater security. are becom.
ing weary of their task. When taken
prisoner they complain that they alone
have been sacrificed. and they have been
obliged not only to face the French but
have been under fire OF their own arti,-
lery, shells from the rear falling on
the positions they have been left 10 hold
Germans Hit by own Shells.
This happened yesterday at Noynn
and seemed to be happening to-day
Shells from the German heavy ARTILLERY
were falling short all around Molot
Simeon and others were falling in Noy0'-
Those that fell in the city drove out o.
their hiding places thirty-two German
soldiers overlooked by the Zouaves VITO
cleared the streets yesterday
The first thing the prisoners dd was
to appeal for food. They were happy
to get out OF Noyon. where they were
for one night tho only inhabitants Tor
the town has been placed out OF bounds
until the engineers have been aide -
explore the ruins for death trans su'n
as destroyed the city hal! at BaNauMe
after last years retreat
The heavy German guns have leen
withdrawn considerable distance since
the day before yesterday. No sound o,
their firing is heard and shells arriving
in the vicinity OF Noyon sound a. i, ''-y
were nearly spent. The historic town
made famous by the familiar saNts
The Germans are still in NoSon.' has
suffered little from shellfre 50 ftr
The French purposely spared the TOW"
preferring to take il at the point Of 'a
bayone: rather than destroy historic I
monuments. The enemy has boosted he
would destroy the city and the work vas
begun. 1t will. in all probability, remain
Unfinished. for the present fighting mood
OF the French troops promises tIrtle'
changes in the situation that vii cbl;s
t, e enemy again to take his heavy guns
further back.
The total OF $50 prisoners taHsH YES.
tsrday and this morning is indicative ~
the present tactics used by tNe Ger
mans They are leaving very Few men
within reach OF their adversqUas 5lt
every man Is equipped with 4 GWtN-
f,er These tactics also account ~ me
great number OF machine guns cao'ur'i
al over the lighting fronts ~ recent
battles. The count has not yet been
made, but 1t is known that The lumber
Is formidable.