The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-11
Allies Close In OH Chaulnes,
Patrols Already Have
Reached City.
MAY CUT OFF ENEMY
Town Now Dominated by
Artillery and Retirement
Is Difficult.
LAURELS FOR AMERICANS
MOrlancOurt and Chipilly Spur
Won in Attack With
British.
LAURELS FOR AMERICANS


of the German salient in France, the
whole front of which is now imper-
illed by the allied advance. fell to
the French this afternoon. The city
was enveloped from the north. and
southeast by the French, whose con-
stantly increasing pressure forced the
Germans TO vacate the city. So hnsty
was their evacuation that immense
quantities Of supplies and thousands
of prisoners were left behind.
East of Montdidier the Allies have
closed in on Chnulnes, French out
posts having reached that city, ac-.
cording to latest reports. The rail.
road junction south of that town Is
now dominated by allied artillery.
and if Chaulnes falls the German
army under Gen. Won Hutier will he
compelled to undertake the long
march over wagon roads toward
Noyon.
These roads. the only avenues of
escape, are under the French fire
from the south, and It would not be
in the least surprising should the re.
treat Of the Germans he cut off.
Americans Help british.
Once again the Americans are par
ticipating In tho fighting, this time
giving aid to the British in the battle
between the Ancre and the Somme.
These American troops have been bri-
gaded with the British Reports from
the front show that they have given
an excellent account of themselves
and have participated in the capture
OF several important positions, towns
and villages.
The Americans assisted the British
in the capture of Morlancourt and the
heights to the southeast and also
Chipiily Spur, where the fighting was
intense. The American machine gun
ners and infantry went into battle
with their traditional enthusiasm.
They met the Germans and defeat
ed them here just as they did along
the Marne. At places stiff resistance
developed. but all along the line the
Americans. British and French
smashed through the harassed enemy
who was trying to hold up their ad-
vance
The Germans are streaming Rerlin.
ward from all that part of their front
between the Somme and the Disc rivers,
pounded at every step by British and
French artillery and hampered by tanks,
airplanes and infantry. The German
forces in Flanders under Crown Prince
Rupprecht OF Bavaria, which could be
used az reserve to stop the Picardy
backwash if the German higher conn
mand had only one instead of three
allied ofensives TO contend with, are ex-
tremely busy trying to hold the British
and Americans In check north OF the
Somme and in the old Iys battlefelds.
Each Army without HeIp.
AS 1t is, each OF the imperilled Ger
man armies must shift for itself. with
out help from the others, and that this
is a problem for which the German
higher command has no solution is in.
d!cated by retreat that now extends
from ipres to Scissors In the allied
capitals the feeling OF expectancy is at
the highest pitch and there would be no
surprise should the retreat degenerate
into a rout almost at any minute.
South and east Of Montdidier the
French have extended their lines over a
front OF sixteen miles in the direction OF
Scissors over this front they advanced
six miles In six hours to-day. which per-
mits them TO dominate the roads leading
out of Montddier and over which the
Germans are now frantically trying to
escape. The general line reached by
the Allies in the Albert -Montdidier sec
tor now runs from Lihons to Fresnoy-
les-Roye, Lignieres and Conchy lies Pots
The German night official statement
says the enemy has gained ground be-
yond Rosieres and HanGest in the centre
of the battlefield"
Pnris-Amiens Railway.
As one important result Of the Allied
offensive in Picardy the Paris-Amiens
railway, which was compelled to sus-
pend operations after the German ao-
vance ui March 81. Is In full operatit-l
again.
Speaking at luncheon to-day at
Newport, Monmouthshire, Premier Lloyd
George emphasized the importance OF
the pushing back OF the Germans from
within gun range OF the Amiens rail-
way.
Hundreds of trains used 10 pass
through Amiens daily the Premier
said. but we were temporarily deprived
Of It's use until recently. when we were
able to employ twenty trains daily.
"Amiens now Is safe through the re-
cent Allied triumphs on the Marne and