The Carlisle independent., 1918-08-15
By EDWARD W. PIcKARp.

Having thoroughly whipped the armies of the German crown prince and driven them back beyond the Vesle river, Foch. now a marshal of France, turned his attention in the middle of the week to the forces un- der the Bayarian crown prince. Rup- precht. At dawn on Thursday the Brit fsh Fourth army and the French First army. under command ot Field Mar shal Haig. began an offensive on a wide front in the region east and south east of Amiens' The front under at tack was about twenty eight miles in length. from Albert south to the vicin- ity of Montdidier.
 Within 24 hours the allied forces had penetrated the enemy lines to points from six to seven miles beyond thestart. had ta5en Dsore than 10000 prisoners and /sfeat quantities Of material and InaMy guns. and had occupied numerous S6wns. Their own losses were remark ably light Tanks led the infantry in the attack and did wonderfully good work.
 Complete success in this offensive would result in obliterating the Ger man salient in the Montdidier region and would imperil the entire Hun line from Reims to Ypres. The Germans seem to have anticipated this move ment by the allies and some days prev iously withdrew their forces there and in other sectors to stronger positions. Progress by the allies here carries them into the Picardy country which was ravaged by the Germans in their retreat of March, 1917, and again de vastated by them when they drove for ward this year.
 The defeated but not disorganized Huns between Soissons and Reims. as was predicted, gathered their strength for pause in their retreat between the Vesle and the Aisne Their guns were brought into play from the plat eau in that region which commands the yesle valley. The Germans. in- deed, made strenuous attempts 10 pre- vent the French and Americans from crossing the Vesle. especially in the vicinity of Fishes. but numerous rela- lively small units forced the crossings and held onto their new positions de spite furious counter-attacks. These operations were mostly between Braisne and Fismes. Up to the close of the week Marshal Foch had not tried to send any very large forces across the river. probably waiting un- til his artillery could drive the Huns from the nearer hills 10 the north. The Germans were using only medium caliber guns, which was taken to mean that their heavier artillery was being placed north of the Aisne to defend that line; for there seemed little doubt that they would be forced that far north before very long. Their position south of the Aisne was said to be real Iy untenabIe though seemingly strong. At the west end of the line the French and Americans were steadily pushing east along the Aisne. and at the east end immediately north of Reims the French made considerable advance be. tween the railways running to Laon and Rethel.
 The city of Fismes. which was so galIantly taken by the Americans, was as gallantly held against all attacks, though the Germans deluged 1t with explosive and gas shells. The machine gun and rife fire of the Yankees was so accurate as to arouse the admira- ton of their allies.
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 Activity increased during the week in the Lys salient which the Germans